An unlicensed driver will face court after police allege he drove through Launceston school zones with a breath alcohol reading of 0.168, more than three times the legal limit.
The man was stopped in Norwood on Monday morning as police began a week-long ‘Fatal Five’ operation, timed to coincide with students returning for term four.
Tasmania Police described the man as a “high-risk driver”. Police said he was in an unregistered vehicle and had not held a licence for three years.
Police also took an oral fluid sample after the man allegedly told officers he had used cannabis that morning.
He has been disqualified from driving for two years and will appear in court at a later date.
Across Monday’s operation, which focused on school zones, police detected four speeding drivers.
One was allegedly travelling at 54km/h in a 40km/h school zone and had not held a licence for eight years.
Officers also detected two unlicensed drivers, two drivers not wearing seatbelts and an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
Acting Inspector Luke Negri said the operation would run in separate phases throughout the week.
“As children return to school this week, we urge drivers to slow down, stay alert and take extra care around school zones,” Negri said.
“A single unsafe decision can change lives forever. We want every child to arrive at school safely and every road user to get home to the people waiting for them.”
