A driver is due in court after being caught allegedly drink-driving twice in under two hours in the state's Hunter region this morning.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were patrolling the New England Highway at East Maitland about 12.30am today (Saturday 27 December 2025), when they saw a ute allegedly being driven dangerously.
The ute was stopped on Lawes Street and police arrested the 24-year-old male driver after he returned a positive roadside breath test.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station where a secondary breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.166.
He was charged with drive with high-range PCA and was issued a court attendance notice. His driver's licence was suspended.
Less than two hours later, police saw the same vehicle being driven on New England Highway, East Maitland, about 2am.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued through Taylor Avenue, Thornton, where road spikes were successfully deployed.
A short time later the vehicle stopped on Victoria Street and police arrested the same driver at the scene.
He was again taken to Maitland Police Station where a breath analysis this time returned an alleged reading of 0.130.
He was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive motor vehicle while licence suspended, and drive with middle-range PCA.
He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 2 today (Saturday 27 December 2025).
