Police have saturated beaches across the Wide Bay Burnett district over the weekend, with 186 people arrested as part of the ongoing Operation Whiskey Legion.
The multilevel operation sees a surge of police across the whole district from August 1 to 9, to take strong, targeted action to reduce crime across the district to ensure the community is safe and feels safe.
Across the weekend, August 3 and 4, Highway Patrol units led patrols of popular beaches in the area to target dangerous driving.
Police patrolled Rainbow Beach, Teewah Beach, Double Island Point, Coonarr and Kinkuna Beach and intercepted several drivers for hooning behaviour, drink driving and defective vehicles.
During patrols police intercepted a Toyota Hilux after campers at Coonarr reported it had been observed driving dangerously.
Police noted major defects included the rear of the vehicle being held to the main cab by ratchet straps, a modified exhaust, and bald tyres.
A 17-year-old Urangan man was issued three traffic infringement notices (TINs) worth $805 – drive/park or permit drive/park defective vehicle that does not comply with vehicle standards, perform non-compliant modification (modify vehicle exhaust to reduce or likely to reduce effectiveness), and drive/park or permit drive/park defective vehicle (vehicle or a vehicle component is unsafe).
During random breath tests at Kinkuna Beach, police recorded a 17-year-old Avenell Heights boy driving with a 0.06 at BAS and a positive drug test.
He was issued with a TIN for drink drive over general limit but not over middle range, a 24-hour driver’s licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a Notice to Appear.
He also received $580 in TINs for P2 licence holder fail to display clearly legible green P plate(s) visible from 20m and drive/park or permit drive/park defective vehicle (vehicle or a vehicle component is unsafe)
The Water Police were also out in force over the weekend, conducting more than 255 combined vehicle/vessel checks on the boat ramps and waterways in and around Tin Can Bay, Hervey Bay and Burnett Heads.
During those checks, police intercepted two drug drivers and issued a caution for unlicensed driving of a boat.
As Operation Whiskey Legion continues today, 186 people have been arrested on 704 charges.
Police have also executed 16 search warrants, conducted 2847 random breath tests and 182 random drug tests, issued 439 TINs, 43 hotspot patrols, engaged with 97 victims and referred 20 people onto support services.
Clip two and three refer to Water Police conducting combined vehicle/vessel checks.
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