Kelowna News

A 52-year-old Kelowna man learned the hard way it's not a good idea to drive to a liquor store when drunk.

Constable Steve Holmes says a traffic member parked on Roxby Road in Rutland, observed a Blue GMC pick-up pull into the parking lot of the liquor store.

After the man left the store, Holmes says the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over to check the driver for a valid driver's license.

"After activating his emergency lights and sirens on his marked cruiser, the officer realized the man was not pulling over," says Holmes.

"The officer followed the vehicle at a speed of 30 km/hr for two blocks before pulling up beside the truck to get the driver's attention. The officer found the driver's side window rolled down and, despite the flashing lights and wailing sirens, the driver continued to ignore the officer."

Holmes says the officer had to pull in front of the truck and slow his cruiser down in order to get the truck to stop.

"While dealing with the driver who was driving with a suspended license, the officer noted obvious signs of alcohol intoxication. The driver was detained for an impaired investigation and taken to the Kelowna Detachment to provide samples of his breath."

He says the man blew nearly three times the legal limit of .08.

The man faces numerous alcohol related charges.

Holmes says the Liquor Control Branch was also advised that the driver had purchased alcohol from a liquor store while intoxicated.