A MOUNT Gambier man will face court after allegedly returning a blood alcohol reading almost six times the legal limit in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The 38-year-old was stopped on Considine Road, Burrungule, around 4am on January 1 and returned a breath analysis reading of .291.
He was issued with a 12 month loss of licence and his vehicle was impounded.
The man will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
Despite the high-level reading, the vast majority of New Year’s Eve party-goers were well-behaved as they welcomed 2019.
Of the 73 breath analysis tests conducted, only one returned a positive result.
Police also conducted five drug tests with three people returning positive samples, including one driver detected with methamphetamine.
No arrests were made in the Limestone Coast Local Service Area in relation to the end of year celebrations.
Police issued 28 expiation notices for offences including drinking in a dry zone, disorderly conduct and urinating in a public place.
A further 26 people were cautioned for similar offences.
Police also issued seven expiation notices for driving offences and defected five cars.
Mount Gambier officer in charge Senior Sargeant Chris King praised the behaviour of attendees at events across the city.
“We are very pleased with the behaviour of people in Vansittart Park and the community in general,” he said.
“Numbers were pretty much the same as previous years, the weather was mild, but there were no significant issues.”
New Year’s Eve celebrations in Robe and Beachport saw hundreds flock to the coast, with Millicent officer in charge Senior Sergeant Rick Errington commending those gathering seaside to ring in 2019.
He said he was pleased with the overall good behaviour of the crowd.
Sgt Errington said “quite a few” patrons were ejected from Robe’s licensed premises due to intoxication and other minor disturbances.
“In Robe, numbers of people in the street were down compared to previous years, but both pubs were at full capacity,” he said.
“Long Beach was pretty good with the cars on the beach and people drinking and enjoying themselves, but there was one group of intoxicated males early in the evening who police spoke to.
“There were quite a few underage people in various events and they were removed and had their identifications seized.
“We are pleased everyone has been behaving themselves, because it is all about keeping the environment safe.”
Along the roads, it was a relatively incident free holiday season with one significant crash on New Year’s Day.
At 10.20am, emergency services were called to a single car roll over on the Glenelg River Road at Wye in response to a vehicle roll over.
A man, woman and child were the occupants of the vehicle.
Ambulance personnel attended the scene, with one patient taken to Mount Gambier Hospital with chest pains.
