Toowoomba driver blew record nine times the legal limit
He later told police he had sculled a bottle of vodka before getting into his car and driving to Wilsonton.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IN WHAT is believed to be a new record for high-range drink driving in Toowoomba, a 57-year-old man returned a blood/alcohol reading almost nine times the legal limit.
A motorist stopped at traffic lights on Bridge St, Wilsonton, was in the right turning lane across the street from the Wilsonton Shopping Centre about 3pm, July 18, when the car behind him bumped into his car.
When he felt a second bump, the driver got out of his car and went to the other driver to find an obviously very drunk Christopher James Harvey at the steering wheel, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.
The other driver reached into the car and took the keys from the ignition, prompting Harvey to get out of the car, yell at the other driver before walking off toward the shopping centre.
The 57-year-old walked to the centre’s taxi rank where he fell against a parked taxi, slumped to the gutter and passed out, police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson told the court.
Police called to the scene helped put Harvey into an ambulance which took him to Toowoomba Hospital where a sample of blood was taken.
When analysed, the blood sample showed Harvey at the time had a blood/alcohol reading of 0.44, the court heard.
He later called police to apologise for his behaviour, telling officers he had earlier that day sculled a bottle of vodka before driving.
He told the court he was an alcoholic and intended signing up for Alcoholics Anonymous.
The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor and to failing to comply with duties of a driver involved in a crash to give driver’s particulars.
Magistrate Kay Ryan convicted and placed Harvey on 12 months probation so he could get help with rehabilitation and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for two years.