Drink drivers putting Christmas at risk as Operation Mistletoe continues

A man has allegedly been busted drink driving more than four times the legal limit, setting a staggering record for the highest breath test reading in Roma for 2023. See the most recent charges here.

Four more charges have been made as police continue to crack down on drink driving this festive season, including a man who has broken the Roma police station record for 2023, with an alleged reading of more than four times the legal limit.

One man and one woman have been charged in the past week in the South West Queensland town of St George.

A 33-year-old St George woman allegedly had a breath alcohol concentration of 0.194 as she drove a blue Subaru sedan along Alfred St in St George at 9.50pm on December 12.

The woman was charged with driving under the influence of liquor and is set to appear in the St George Magistrates court on February 13, 2024.

Police allege a 27-year-old Wagga Wagga man was drink driving with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.080. He was allegedly intercepted on Alfred St in St George at 9.30pm on December 13, driving a white Izuzu utility vehicle.

He was charged with drink driving over the general limit and is scheduled to appear in the St George Magistrates Court on February 13, 2024.

In Roma, two men have been charged with drink driving this week, one of which has broken this years record in Roma.

A 37-year-old man has been charged with drink driving after police were called to a Miscamble St address for an unrelated matter on December 15. Police will allege the man’s breath alcohol concentration read 0.226, which Acting Senior Sergeant David Harper said was the highest reading in 2023.

A breath alcohol concentration of 0.226 is more than four times the general alcohol limit.

Another man was charged with drink driving with an alleged breath alcohol concentration of 0.090. The 42-year-old man was allegedly intercepted on McDowall St in Roma on December 17.

Officer in Charge of Roma Highway Patrol Sergeant Seb Pollock said it was disappointing to see the road safety message around drink driving ignored.

“We realise that Christmas is the time to eat drink and be merry, however with our increased high-visibility enforcement, if you choose to drink or take illicit drugs and drive, high chance you will be caught and that Christmas won’t be merry at all,” he said.