At the age of 26, a man of Ecclesville, Rio Claro not only chalked up his second drunk driving charge, but also gained the distinction of recording the highest ever breath sample taken locally when he failed his breathalyser test with a reading of 188 microgrammes.

The minimum permitted while driving is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The young man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, at about 11 pm on Thursday, during and exercise along Clarke Road, Penal, a police report stated.

Officers said it was a first for the unit. “We have had persons just over 180 microgrammes but never so high,” an officer revealed.

And 24 hours later, in a similar exercise in La Brea, a 63-year-old retiree of Point D’or, La Brea, was also charged with drunk driving when he gave a reading of 156 microgrammes. Police also arrested and charged a third offender. He has been identified as a 33-year-old technician of Clifton Hill, Point Fortin who, according to police, is currently engaged in community service for one year for a similar offence. He had been charged twice before for drunk driving in Tunapuna and San Fernando.

The exercise which continues over the weekend is being led by Sgt Gosine and officers of the DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Unit of South Western Division.