!['Extremely drunk' Irish national arrested driving 300 metres home from pub 'Extremely drunk' Irish national arrested driving 300 metres home from pub](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4MhkJ8SfhCqb4cUfcgRRmJ/88c4a926-0bbd-4f77-9d09-6958f49d20d5.jpg/r0_5_1128_797_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
UPDATE, Thursday, 11.50am:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Terang police have been left stunned after a 20-year-old Irish national left a local pub and tried to drive the 300 metres home while "extremely intoxicated".
Sergeant Bevan Marr said at 1.15am on Sunday, March 31, two Terang police officers saw a vehicle veering across the road on the back streets of Terang.
Officers activated their emergency lights and siren and the driver took some time to pull over.
"He eventually stopped," Sergeant Marr said.
"The driver, an Irish national working as a local contractor, was extremely intoxicated.
"The 20-year-old provided a sample of his breath in a preliminary breath test and recorded a positive reading.
"He then refused to accompany police to undertake an evidentiary breath test."
The Terang police station commander said the driver would be charged on summons to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court for refusing a breath test.
He faces fines up up to about $2300 and a minimum two years off the road.
The driver returned a negative illicit drug test after providing an oral fluid sample.
"He was very belligerent," Sergeant Marr said.
"At the time we seized his keys. He came in the next day and apologised.
"He should simply not have been behind the wheel of a car in that condition.
"We saw him leave the hotel and get in his car. Pulled him over 100 metres later and he only lives 300m from the pub."
Sergeant Marr said the driver was a danger to himself and every other road user.
"It made us extremely angry to see just how intoxicated he was," he said.
"If you drink and drive you will be intercepted and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
On Wednesday: With the new football and netball season about to get into full swing, Corangamite district police are warning supporters, players and officials to be responsible.
Terang police Senior Constable Ken Sayer said local officers would be actively keeping an eye on football and netball crowds during the coming months.
He said the station would be barracking for local clubs Terang Mortlake and Kolora-Noorat, but also for everyone involved in the clubs to follow the drink driving and drug impaired driving road rules.
Senior Constable Sayer there had been no particular issues identified, but everyone should be aware that Corangamite district police would be targeting drivers leaving after games and club functions during the season.
"We want everyone to enjoy themselves but to do so in a responsible manner," he said.
"There's no secret we will be alcohol and drug testing drivers leaving after the football and after club functions at both district league and Hampden league games."
The experienced police officer urged sports followers to be organised, and if they were going to have a few alcoholic beverages to plan how they were going to get home.
"The last thing we want is for drivers, particularly young drivers, to be tested and found to be over the alcohol limit or with illicit drugs in their system," Senior Constable Sayer said.
"There are significant penalties attached to being found driving while impaired - heavy fines, suspensions and disqualifications and possible prison sentences for repeat offenders.
"In addition drivers may be required to go through the exhaustive and expensive process of having an alcohol interlock device fitted to any vehicle they drive in future, to pay for monthly readouts and to pay to have the devices removed.
"In addition impaired drivers may be required to complete driver awareness courses to get their licence back.
"It's a very costly exercise - it's best just to not drink and drive or to drive while under the influence of illicit drugs."