Police are furious at the number of drivers being detected with high-range readings during the first day of a three-day state-wide drink driving campaign.
Operation Drink Drive 1 began at 12.01am yesterday (Friday 15 February 2019) and concludes at 11.59pm on Sunday 17 February 2019.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said he was still perplexed about some of the choices drivers were making before they took control of a vehicle.
“On day one of this operation, we have had a lot of anecdotal evidence about drivers being charged with mid-range and high-range offences,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
“If you have been drinking and drinking excessively, you need to realise you are not bullet proof.
“The risk you are placing on yourself but potentially your family and other people on the road can only be described as extreme. There is no room on our roads for this selfish, irresponsible, idiotic behaviour. “
Some examples of inappropriate driver behaviour detected on Day One of Operation Drink Drive 1 include;
Lane Cove – A motorcyclist is facing court next month after being charged with high-range drink driving after being stopped on Burns Bay Road last night. Police stopped the motorcycle around 11.55pm (Friday 15 February 2019), due to the way it was being ridden. The 24-year-old male driver underwent a roadside breath test which returned a positive result. He was arrested, and a subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.186. The Lane Cove man will appear in Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 21 March 2019 for driving with high-range PCA and driving while suspended. He was also issued infringement notices for using an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
Katoomba – About 8.20pm yesterday (Friday 15 February 2019), officers from Blue Mountains Police Area Command were conducting random breath testing on the Great Western Highway at Katoomba as a part of Operation Drink Drive 1. They stopped a 63-year-old man who returned a positive result. The 63-year-old was arrested and taken to Katoomba Police Station. A subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.086. At the time the car was stopped, a two-year-old girl was a passenger in the car. The man will appear at Katoomba Local Court on Monday 25 March 2019 for driving with mid-range PCA. His licence was suspended. A child at risk notification has also been made.
Ballina – About 11.45pm yesterday (Friday 15 February), a 50-year-old man was stopped on Ballina Road at Lennox Head for a random breath test, returning a positive reading. The man was arrested and taken to Ballina Police Station. A subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.182. His licence was suspended, and he will face Ballina Local Court on Thursday 21 March 2019.
Key provisional statistics for Operation Drink Drive One – compiled from 15 February 2019
Lives lost – 2
Fatal crashes – 2
Speeding Infringements issued – 666
Total Breath Tests – 75,104
Drink driving charges – 23
Seatbelt/helmet infringements issued – 134
