Police nab boozers in Berwick

By Cam Scott
Two booze buses were set up southbound on Clyde Road between the Freeway and Bemersyde Drive, supported by three satellite police cars that canvassed the back streets, plus Soldiers Road and the freeway onramp.
A total of 1696 drivers were tested through the two buses and in total, 13 drinkdriving offences were detected, several by drivers trying to avoid the bus setup.
Out of those caught, 12 were men.
Sgt McGavigan said there were two Pplate drivers among the offenders, one 18yearold Berwick Pplater that recorded a bloodalcohol reading of .097.
Despite this, Sgt McGavigan said that the age range of those caught was varied.
“Some had been for dinner at a local restaurant or the pub, some had been drinking after work. There was a broad crosssection of the community,” he said.
While the figures may not seem high, Sgt McGavigan said that based on Friday night’s figures, nearly one in every 100 drivers on the roads was driving while intoxicated and that was totally unacceptable.
“We’d rather see no people drink driving,” he said.
Sgt McGavigan said he was disappointed so many people were still getting caught and also trying to avoid where the buses were set up.
“People seem to think they can avoid getting caught by going the back ways, but police will be sitting there looking for them,” he said.
“We’ll continue to be working with the Traffic Alcohol Section to try and target drinkdriving and work in the backstreets where people are trying to avoid getting caught.
“If you’re going to drive, don’t drink.”