By Paul Dunlop
A FEMALE motorist blew almost three times the legal limit during a drinkdrive blitz in Pakenham on Saturday night.
The Labertouche woman was found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.141 per cent when pulled over by police during a booze bus operation on the Princes Highway.
Police are stepping up efforts to stop people getting behind the wheel after a few too many drinks.
The woman was among five motorists of the 291 drivers tested who were said by police to be over the limit. The operation ran from 7.30pm until midnight.
Cardinia Traffic Management Unit Sergeant Peter Garton said the results were disappointing at a time when police were strongly promoting the message that people should not be drinking and driving on local roads.
“It was a little bit disappointing to say the least, around one driver in 60 was over the legal limit.
“The message does not seem to be getting through,” Sgt Garton said.
Also picked up were a Woori Yallock man who blew .099 — almost twice the legal limit — a Pakenham Upper man who blew 0.91 and a Pakenham man found to be 0.053 — just above the limit.
Police said the Pakenham Upper man faced a licence suspension in what was his second drink driving offence. Another Pakenham man also faces having his licence suspended after police said he failed to stay at the booze bus testing site when requested.
Sgt Garton said police would maintain a strong presence on local roads during the leadup to the festive season.
“We’ll be out and about on the major thoroughfares. We are also running Operation Filter which will target back roads,” he said.
Operation Filter has been funded by the TAC and will see police patrol roads around pubs in smaller towns in a bid to catch drinkdrivers who use back roads as a rat run to avoid booze buses or police.
“This operation will run throughout the festive period.
“If people think they can have a drink and then get home the back way, they might get a surprise,” Sgt Garton said.