A 43-year-old Thuringowa woman is facing serious charges after police intercepted her vehicle at a McDonald's drive-through in what authorities are calling another concerning case of drink driving.
The Drive-Through Incident
Queensland Police officers were conducting routine patrols when they noticed a vehicle behaving erratically at the McDonald's located on University Road in Townsville. The incident occurred around 9:15 pm on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, when officers decided to intervene after observing the suspicious driving behavior.
Police approached the vehicle while it was in the drive-through queue and immediately detected signs of alcohol impairment. The driver, identified as a 43-year-old woman from Thuringowa, was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.
Legal Consequences and Charges
The woman was subsequently arrested and transported to the Townsville Police Station for further testing. The formal breath analysis revealed an alcohol concentration that exceeded the legal limit, leading to formal charges being laid.
The woman has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and is scheduled to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court at a later date. Her driver's licence was immediately suspended as part of standard procedure for such offences.
Police Warning to Drivers
Queensland Police have used this incident to remind drivers about the serious consequences of drink driving. Driving with any amount of alcohol in your system significantly increases the risk of accidents that can lead to serious injury or death.
Police emphasized that drive-through services are still part of the road network and normal traffic laws apply. Many drivers mistakenly believe that being in a drive-through means they're not technically on the road, but this is incorrect from a legal perspective.
The incident marks another in a series of drink driving offences that police have detected in fast food drive-throughs across Queensland. Authorities have indicated they will continue to monitor these locations as part of their road safety strategy.
