A tearful Jacinta Allan says she’s “deeply shocked, disappointed and embarrassed” after her husband lost his licence for drink-driving during a trip to the supermarket.
The Victorian premier on Friday revealed her husband, Yorick Piper, was intercepted for a random breath test in Bendigo on his way to buy some groceries just before 9am on Thursday morning. He had been involved in a minor collision at an intersection shortly before the test.
“There had been that minor back-end collision – a fender bender – when the cars came to a stop at the intersection. Details were exchanged, the other driver indicated they were OK, and both went on their way,” a visibly emotional Allan told reporters.
“It was a little bit further up the road towards Bendigo, where Victoria police had established a roadside breath-testing operation where they were waving vehicles in three at a time, and he was waved in as part of that, and quite clearly, was quite willing to submit to a breath test.”
Victoria police confirmed Piper, 56, was intercepted at Mitchell Street in Bendigo, where he returned a positive preliminary test and then an alleged evidentiary reading of 0.05%. They said he was fined $611 and his licence was cancelled for three months.
“He made his own arrangements to leave his vehicle and left the site on foot,” a police spokesperson said. They added they did not receive any reports about a collision prior to the breath test.
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Allan said there was “no contemplation” Piper would be over the limit.
“It was a deep shock to him, because clearly he was driving, going about the regular morning household duties, heading off to the supermarket to pick up a few groceries,” Allan said.
She said the couple celebrated their son’s birthday at a local pub on Wednesday night and headed home about 8pm.
“My husband is also currently taking medication for a health issue, and as a result of the medication mixing with the alcohol from the night before, he simply shouldn’t have been driving the following morning,” Allan said.
“He understands that, I understand that, and for this, we are both truly sorry.”
She said the couple have made a $1,000 donation to the Amber Foundation, a not-for-profit road safety organisation. They will also cover the cost of repairing the “minor damage” to the other vehicle involved in the collision.
Allan said she made the announcement at the “first opportunity” on Friday morning to ensure “honesty and transparency”, after spending Thursday telling family.
Police confirmed Piper’s breath test was part of their “operation roadwise” campaign targeting drink-driving ahead of the holiday season, which launched that day.
Announcing the operation on Wednesday, police said December was the worst month for drink-driving offences, with the highest number of drink-driving detections and collisions involving drivers over the blood alcohol limit.
“Motorists should expect to be tested anywhere, any time and be prepared to face the consequences if you’re caught over the limit,” road policing assistant commissioner, Glenn Weir, said.
“There are significant penalties for those who disregard the road rules, so for those who chose to take the risk and get caught – you can expect to have a costly Christmas.”
The operation will run 24/7 to 1 January.
The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, said drink-driving was a “very serious offence and completely unacceptable” but declined to comment on matters relating to the premier’s family.
Piper received an on-the-spot fine and lost his licence for three months, commencing 16 January. After reapplying for his licence, he will be required to install an interlock device in his vehicle for six months.
The measures follows laws introduced by the Labor government in 2017, under which people who record a blood alcohol reading in the lowest range, between 0.05 and 0.07, have their licences immediately cancelled and are banned from driving for three months.
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