A four-year-old child was sitting unrestrained in the front seat of a car on the Bass Highway when police pulled the driver over for speeding and found he had been drinking.
The 40-year-old Turners Beach man returned a breath alcohol reading of 0.076, more than one-and-a-half times the legal limit.
He was one of several drivers caught during three traffic operations across Tasmania’s north-west on Thursday.
“It’s disappointing that during three separate traffic operations yesterday, a number of drivers were detected disobeying the road rules and putting themselves and others at risk,” Sergeant Nigel Sheahen said.
The first operation was held at Leith between 4pm and 5:30pm in a 90km/h zone.
Police caught nine speeding drivers and issued one vehicle defect notice.
Earlier, officers had stopped drivers on Brooke Street at East Devonport between 2:45pm and 4pm.
They carried out 157 breath tests and six roadside drug tests, catching three alleged drug drivers and issuing four vehicle defect notices.
The final operation was held on South Road at West Ulverstone between 8pm and 9:30pm.
Police conducted 365 breath tests, catching one alleged drink driver and issuing one vehicle defect notice.
Sheahen said the operations were aimed at improving driver behaviour and identifying unsafe motorists.
“Police are committed to road safety and we urge all motorists to do the right thing to help us keep everyone safe on our roads,” he said.
“Last week we saw devastating results from crashes on our roads and it’s important we all play our part to help keep everyone safe on our roads.”
