WHILE police were generally pleased with the behaviour of Canberra’s New Year’s Eve revellers, they still needed to take 15 young people into protective custody for either intoxication, possession of, or consumption of alcohol.

“These young people were held by police until released into the care of a parent or guardian,” says Supt Ben Cartwright.

“Particularly concerning and disappointing was the large number of young people, a portion of whom appeared to be affected by alcohol, and who were congregating in city well into the early hours of the morning,” he says.

Elsewhere during the evening:

• A man was arrested and charged with arson of a motor vehicle. He was remanded in custody after a vehicle fire that occurred during the 9pm fireworks display in Civic.
• 520 random breath tests revealed two people recording a positive reading. One male recorded .215, four times over the legal limit. In addition three others were caught driving under the influence of drugs.
• A 23-year-man, on a provisional licence, was caught driving on the Majura Parkway at 146kmh in a posted 100 zone. The driver was arrested and charged at the Civic watch house with exceeding the speed limit >45kmh over the speed limit.

Police say they will continue to conduct targeted traffic duties throughout the holiday period, targeting the top factors of serious crashes – drink/drug driving, speeding, fatigue, distraction and not wearing seatbelts.

Double demerit penalties are in place for speeding, seatbelt and mobile phone offences, with an additional demerit point for all other offences until the last moment of Sunday, January 3.