A COLDSTREAM woman has lost her Learner’s Permit for a year and faces serious charges in court after being caught drink and drug driving over the weekend.
About 8.40pm on Saturday 21 November, Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol officers were called out to a minor collision in McFadzean Street in Coldstream.
When arriving at the scene, police found a white Mitsubishi van, and the driver, a 25-year-old Coldstream woman, returned a positive preliminary breath test.
In an evidentiary breath test, the woman returned a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.241 per cent – nearly five times the legal limit for fully-licensed drivers.
The woman was on her Learner’s Permit, which requires a 0.00 BAC at all times, and was not accompanied by a fully-licensed driver when she was behind the wheel.
She also tested positive to cannabis.
The woman’s Learner’s Permit was suspended for 12 months, and she is expected to be charged on summons with drink driving, drug driving and being an unaccompanied learner, among other charges.
145 demerit points: beat that
A HEALESVILLE woman has been arrested after racking up more than 145 demerit points on the road, and is expected to front court in the near future.
Yarra Glen Police Sergeant Richard Coulson said at 8.50pm on Sunday 15 November, a resident called police about a driver allegedly driving erratically in Yarra Glen.
The driver, a 32-year-old Healesville woman, was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and will front Ringwood Magistrates’ Court, charged with driving whilst suspended.
Sgt Coulson said the woman had 145 outstanding demerit points, the highest he had ever seen from a driver.
A fully-licensed driver can only accrue 12 demerit points before losing their license – P-Platers can accrue five.
The woman’s car was also impounded on the spot for 30 days, and will cost $1280 to retrieve.
Heifer calf stolen
YARRA Glen Police are calling for information after a heifer calf was stolen from a Dixons Creek property earlier this month.
Sometime between 7 November and 14 November, a nine-month-old black heifer calf was stolen from a Bleases Lane property in Dixons Creek.
Yarra Glen Police Leading Senior Constable Glen Piper said there had been several previous thefts of single heifer calves from the same property.
He said the calf had a white face, was valued at $500, and could have been carried away.
Anyone with information is asked to call Yarra Glen police on 9730 1296.
Phone scam warning
POLICE are urging Yarra Valley residents to be wary of a phone scam, where people are posing as Australian Tax Office (ATO) employees to get money.
Victoria Police announced on Friday 20 November, that residents in the Maroondah and Yarra Valley areas had been reporting a phone scam, where people call pretending to be from the ATO.
The callers claim that an arrest warrant has been issued for outstanding debts, then direct victims to go to post offices and pay the fake debt via wire transfer.
Mooroolbark Police have reportedly received a “significant number” of reports about the scam.
Anyone receiving a call of this nature is asked to call the ATO on 13 28 61, and not to transfer any money.
Those who have relatives in the area, particularly those who are elderly or speak limited English, are asked to get in contact and raise awareness of the scam.
Anyone with more information about the scam is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
