These are some of the ACT's drunkest drivers, the worst of which would struggle even to walk down a street, let alone control a car.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Some were found unconscious at the wheel, others were so intoxicated that they ploughed into everything from traffic lights, and street signs, to roundabouts and roadside posts.
One drunk hit a parked car and then smashed into a house, his car coming to rest just centimetres from where the owner of the home was sleeping.
Another was found slumped on her steering wheel, half parked in a bus stop and half blocking a lane on Melrose Drive.
The 38-year-old woman was so drunk that she could not follow even the most basic of instructions from police.
At one point, she even tried to restart her car as the officers watched.
The worst blood alcohol content reading was taken from a 31-year-old Bonner man who had a level of 0.353, seven times over the legal limit.
That is so drunk that police say they would fear for a person's safety even while walking.
The 31-year-old, who had already been convicted of drink driving twice, was found by police after he crashed his car into street signs and a median strip outside the Bonner shops.
His injuries required him to be hospitalised.
Traffic Operations Station Sergeant Rod Anderson said for a person to get in a car after that much alcohol was "just crazy".
Sergeant Anderson said some people seemed to think that the more they drank, the better they were at driving.
But that couldn't be further from the truth.
"They're not able to perceive risk. Their motor skills are very, very poor," he said.
"They're unable to judge distances and speeds of other vehicles, let alone their own vehicle, and we know that alcohol has that effect on people. It makes them seem invincible."
The next highest reading was taken from a Forde man who was found unconscious in his car by a member of the public at 11am.
Police came to his car, and he was later taken to Calvary Hospital where he returned a reading of 0.345.
One of the most disturbing incidents in the past two years took place in Gilmore, where a 19-year-old P-plate driver left the road, hit a parked car, and then smashed into a house about 3.45am, while a woman slept inside.
She was not injured, but the crash caused about $100,000 damage to the brickwork and windows of the house.
The teenager, who was legally not allowed to have any alcohol in his system, returned a reading of 0.171.
Police say they will be out in force over the holiday period, and are warning motorists they can be caught any time, anywhere, with all vehicles capable of conducting breath tests.
Sergeant Anderson said many drivers who were caught by police simply had not made plans to get home after drinking.
He said motorists had a clear choice: decide to drink or drive.
Double demerits are in place until January 1 for speeding and seatbelt offences.
All other offences will attract an additional demerit point.
The worst of the worst:
March 4, 2012. 19-year-old man (blood-alcohol reading .171)
An occupant of a house on Louisa Lawson Crescent in Gilmore had an incredibly lucky escape when the drunk driver’s vehicle left the road on a bend, hit a parked car and crashed through her bedroom wall just before 4am. The car came to rest within centimetres of her bed. The damage to the home was estimated at $100,000.
February 14, 2013. 35-year-old Rivett man (.319)
About 4.15pm a Rivett man lost control of his vehicle on Lady Denman Drive, Yarralumla, crossed to the wrong side of the road and rolled. He was taken to hospital where a blood sample was taken. His car was unregistered and not covered by third party insurance. He was a repeat offender.
March 15, 2013. 31-year-old Bonner man (.353)
The driver lost control of his vehicle outside the shops in Bonner about 7pm, hitting a median strip and street signs. He was taken to the Gungahlin police station but then taken to Calvary Hospital for treatment. He was a repeat offender on two occasions.
September 20, 2013. 31-year-old Forde man (.345)
A member of the public saw the driver unconscious in his vehicle mid-morning. Police attended the scene and the driver was taken to hospital. A blood test showed an alcohol concentration reading of 0.345grams per 100 millilitres of blood. He was a repeat offender.
December 12, 2013. 45-year-old Red Hill man (.267)
Police on patrol in Red Hill were flagged down late morning by a motorist who had seen a white ute swerving and driving recklessly near the shops. Police found the vehicle and gave the driver a roadside breath test which was positive. The man had a disqualified drivers licence and was a Special Driver, making him subject to an Alcohol Concentration limit of 0.00. He had been convicted five times for previous drink-driving offences, the most recent being in September 2013.
December 3, 2013. 38-year-old Gordon woman (.219)
Police on patrol late at night saw a car stopped at a bus stop and blocking a lane on Melrose Drive. The driver was slumped behind the steering wheel and unable to comprehend simple instructions. At one point she tried to restart the car. She was taken to Woden Police Station for breath testing.