UPDATE Sunday 2.45pm: Police say it is a “worrying trend” – but not a common one – that has seen three women caught allegedly drink-driving in school zones this month alone.
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Leading Senior Constable Peter Dyer, from Bendigo Highway Patrol, said there were underlying issues associated with drinking and driving in a school zone, such as alcoholism.
“It’s obviously a real concern for us,” he said.
Leading Senior Constable Dyer urged people who knew someone who drove under the influence of alcohol to “have a long hard think” about the potential consequences if they failed to speak up, if someone was killed as a result of that person getting behind the wheel after drinking.
He said those who knew of someone who drank and drove should make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EARLIER: A woman has been caught allegedly speeding and drink-driving at more than double the legal blood alcohol limit in a Flora Hill school zone.
The 35-year-old Lockwood South woman was intercepted by police on Ellis Street after she was seen driving at an alleged 52 km/h in the 40 km/h zone about 3pm Friday.
A subsequent breath test returned a positive result and she was taken back to the police station, where she allegedly returned a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.106.
Her car has been impounded for 30 days and she is expected to be charged on summons for speed and alcohol-related offences.
It is the third time this month police have caught people allegedly drink-driving in school zones in Bendigo.
On November 7, police caught a 40-year-old woman in Leslie Street, Marong, allegedly driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.216 per cent – more than four times the legal limit.
She was picking two children up from school at the time.
She was charged with drink-driving, her licence was suspended and her car was impounded.
The following day, a 32-year-old woman allegedly returned a reading of 0.169 after being pulled over in White Hills about 9am.
Police believe she had dropped children off at a nearby primary school before she was pulled over.
Her licence was immediately suspended, her car impounded and she was to face court on charges of drink-driving.