A Queenstown driver who was disqualified and apparently intoxicated scrambled over his passengers in a Nissan station-wagon and hid in the back of the vehicle after he was spotted driving "like a maniac" by police into a Frankton fast food restaurant.
Rural Drink Driving Squad acting sergeant Mark Wellstead, of Alexandra, said officers were at the BP service station roundabout on Saturday about 1.30am when they saw the station-wagon enter the drive-through Burger King "at speed".
Sgt Wellstead said the vehicle stopped for the four occupants to give their order.
Officers followed the car down the ramp, and saw the driver attempt to hide.
"His explanation for why he was driving was 'I was doing the right thing because I was the soberest out of the group'," Sgt Wellstead told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
Sgt Wellstead said the man had been disqualified for drink-driving about three months ago.
He allegedly blew an excess breath alcohol level of 581mcg and was expected to appear in the Queenstown District Court.
Three officers from the squad stopped 400 vehicles at a checkpoint outside Arrowtown overnight on Wednesday.
No drivers were found to be intoxicated, but one was found to be unlicensed and the car not roadworthy.
Out of almost 800 vehicles stopped overnight on Thursday at the checkpoint on Frankton Rd, near Perkins Rd, three drivers were processed for drink-driving.
About 1200 vehicles were stopped overnight on Friday and, apart from the Burger King incident, no drivers were processed for drink-driving.
A checkpoint planned for Saturday night was called off due to poor weather.
Queenstown police dealt with a 29-year-old Arrowtown man for alleged drink-driving in the town on Friday at 11pm.
Police also processed a 25-year-old Queenstown man for alleged drink-driving on Robins Rd on Saturday at 3.30am.
He elected to take a blood test and police were awaiting results.
An 18-year-old Dunedin man allegedly blew an excess breath alcohol level of 400mcg on Shotover St on Sunday at 3am.
