Man riding motorized cooler charged with drink driving after being caught six times over the limit

A man allegedly caught riding a motorized cooler found himself in hot water after blowing more than six times the alcohol limit.

The 38-year-old man from Scarness, Queensland, Australia was spotted by police riding the cooler down a bike path on Friday afternoon at 4.45pm. He was breath-tested and returned an alleged reading of 0.305%.  Police raided the cooler, which they said was carrying 10 tallies of beer, two cask wine bags and up to six cans of Woodstock bourbon.

The man has been issued with a notice to face the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court for offences including driving while under the influence of liquor, driving while unlicensed and driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle. Officer In Charge Sergeant Darryn Morris said while the case was unusual, it was no less serious.

"Due to the fact it is a petrol engine (the cooler) falls under the ambit of a motor vehicle under the Traffic Act," Sgt Morris said. "Some people aren't aware that if they're riding a wheeled object, the footpath is also deemed a road under Queensland legislation. It is a serious issue due to one, the amount of alcohol he had on him at the time and two, in relation to those using these motorized devices that can cause serious injury to themselves or other people."