MILLICENT set an unwanted record during new year celebrations with a motorist recording the highest blood alcohol level in the state.
Police breath tested around 7500 motorists across South Australia on Sunday and Monday with a 40-year-old Millicent man returning a reading of .269.
The reading is almost six times the legal limit of .05.
Police said his car was stopped by a mobile patrol in McCourt Street at 12.43am and he was breath tested.
The man was reported for drink driving as well as driving under disqualification and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
His car was impounded and he will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
Meanwhile in Bordertown, police detected a drink driver twice within 3.5 hours on Sunday.
Police stopped him at around 10.15pm for a mobile driver test.
The 26-year-old Bordertown man recorded a blood alcohol reading of .143.
Checks revealed he was already disqualified from driving and his vehicle was unregistered and uninsured.
He was issued with an additional six month loss of licence and reported.
At 1.45am on the following morning police stopped the same driver again.
By this time, his blood alcohol level had increased to .171.
This time he was arrested and refused police bail.
He was also given an additional 12 month licence disqualification.
Assistant Police Commissioner Bronwyn Killmier said New Year’s celebrations took place without reports of major incidents across the state.
“While there were individuals that made poor choices, most people were able to have a great night without attracting the attention of police,” she said.
“Our aim from the outset was to ensure a safe and enjoyable night for everyone and the number of arrests is generally lower than previous years.
“This indicates to us that most people were looking to have a fun safe night out.
“We need to acknowledge the thousands of police employees across the state that were working to ensure the safety of the community while the general public celebrated the New Year.
“Around 7500 drug and alcohol tests were conducted with over 40 positive results to alcohol and 25 positive drug tests.
“Having lost over 100 people on our roads last year, it was disappointing that some people still do not heed the messages regarding mixing driving and drug and alcohol use.”
