From a teenager driving on the footpath to a 40-something passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle with its engine running, police were kept busy dealing with dodgy Dunedin drivers at the weekend.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said at noon on Friday, members of the public called 111, because a man was unconscious in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in George St.
Police arrived, turned off the ignition and woke the 47-year-old driver.
The man passed the breath screening test, but failed an impairment test, Snr Sgt Bond said. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
Nearly 12 hours later, shortly before midnight, a 58-year-old driver was seen driving in Cumberland St and swerving within his lane.
The man was stopped by police and recorded a breath alcohol level of 838mcg.
His licence was suspended and he was summonsed to court.
About an hour later, early on Saturday morning, in Stenhope Cres, police stopped a 20-year-old woman, whose breath test result was over the limit.
She elected a blood sample, which police were now awaiting the results of, Snr Sgt Bond said.
About 4am in Mulford St, a 16-year-old was driving his friend home to a Mulford St address after drinking at a party further down the street.
The driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a parked Toyota Hilux on the other side of the road.
St John attended and took the passenger to Dunedin Hospital with a suspected broken arm.
There was extensive damage to both vehicles in the crash.
Police conducted drink-driving procedures and the teenage driver recorded a breath alcohol level of 571mcg.
The matter was referred to Youth Aid for follow-up, Snr Sgt Bond said.
Shortly after, at 4.30am, a 29-year-old crashed her vehicle into a Sunbury St property, in Andersons Bay.
She failed to complete police breath-testing procedures and consequently a blood sample was taken.
Her vehicle was impounded because she had previously been forbidden to drive.
Police were awaiting blood results, Snr Sgt Bond said.
In Kaikorai Valley Rd, about 10am on Saturday, police watched a vehicle weaving in its lane.
The vehicle was stopped by police, who spoke to the 16-year-old driver.
He had obtained his learner’s licence only two days earlier, but after a bag of cannabis was seen on a seat, police searched the vehicle.
Snr Sgt Bond said police found further evidence of drug use and the driver was forbidden to drive for 12 hours.
The driver was referred to Youth Aid, he said.
About 40 minutes later, in Alva St, police received a complaint from the public about a vehicle being driven on the footpath.
When police located the vehicle it was doing a U-turn.
The 18-year-old driver was under the influence of alcohol and underwent the drink-driving process, recording a breath alcohol level of 536mcg, Snr Sgt Bond said.
The driver was summonsed to appear in court.
At 1.35am on Sunday, police stopped a vehicle in Anzac Ave. The driver was a 19-year-old woman, who recorded a breath alcohol level of 723mcg.
Her licence was suspended for 28 days, and she was summonsed to appear in court for drink-driving, Snr Sgt Bond said.
