Jemblog

Drunk 13 year old drives to get aunty from nightclub

Drunk Kid

A 13-YEAR-old girl who blew .115 while driving to pick up her aunty from a nightclub was among 52 drink-drivers caught in a city-wide blitz on Friday night.

The highest reading went to a man who blew .233, almost five times the legal driving limit.

Darwin police watch commander, senior sergeant Chris Lyndon said more than 1600 motorists were breath-tested on Friday night.

He said from the number of arrests, clearly the message of not drink-driving was not getting through.

“There is a complete lack of understanding of the implications of drink-driving,” he said.

“There is still a high percentage of the population who think that is it acceptable – it is not.

“It defies understanding, and beggars belief that the culture is there.”

Sen-Sgt Lyndon said it was “absolutely unbelievable” that a 13-year-old girl would be caught drink-driving.

He said the girl had her 10-year-old cousin in the car and was on her way to Discovery Nightclub to pick up her aunty.

“It is worse than disappointing – it is outrageous,” he said.

“She was driving from The Esplanade on to Daly St, she went over the roundabout, stopped at the lights when it was green, waited while it was amber and when it turned red she took off.

“She had no lights on at all.

“It is absolutely disgraceful that adults could let her be in this situation.”

Sen-Sgt Lyndon took aim at licensed premises, who need to take a more “pro-active role” in monitoring the alcohol consumption of patrons.

“Licensed premises need to be a bit more accountable.

“I am not blaming them for the people drink-driving, but the high range (arrests) were people who are getting drunk and that should be evident to those serving them.”

Of the 52 people caught drink-driving, 10 blew below .08 and were fined, the other 42 will be summonsed to face court.

There were also 10 defect notices issued.

Sen-Sgt Lyndon said there was a night-time culture in Darwin that accepts heavy drinking and driving home.