Police have conducted a combined total of more than 4,800 random breath tests (RBT) and random drug tests (RDT) since Operation Whiskey Legion began the Wide Bay Burnett district deployment on August 1.
Road safety is a key priority for the district and during this deployment of the operation, there is strong focus on safe driving, both on the roads and beaches, including targeting hooning behaviour.
Within just two hours, police detected four impaired drivers through a single RBT/RDT site on the Burnett Highway in Gayndah yesterday, August 6.
A 20-year-old Gayndah man tested positive to cannabis through a roadside drug test and saliva analysis.
He was issued with a 24-hour drivers licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a Notice to Appear in the Gayndah Magistrates Court on September 13.
A 36-year-old Biggenden woman was recorded driving with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.054%.
She was issued a 24-hour drivers licence suspension notice.
A 27-year-old old Gayndah woman tested positive to cannabis through a roadside drug test and saliva analysis.
She was issued with a 24-hour drivers licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a Notice to Appear.
A 53-year-old Gayndah man tested positive to methamphetamine through a roadside drug test and saliva analysis.
He was issued with a 24-hour drivers licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a Notice to Appear in the Gayndah Magistrates Court on September 13.
Police also arrested a woman for drink driving three times the legal limit during a patrol of Moore Park Beach.
A 51-year-old Mount Larcom woman returned a high-range breath alcohol concentration of 0.157%.
She was charged with one count of did drive UIL, and issued a drivers licence suspension notice and a Notice to Appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 15.
Wide Bay Burnett district Tactician Acting Senior Sergeant Josh Churchward said there is a heavy Highway Patrol presence in the area for Operation Whiskey Legion.
“It is disappointed to see the prevalence of impaired drivers detected on our roads,” Acting Senior Sergeant Churchward said.
“Travelling on country roads often involves driving longer distances at higher speeds and requires a greater level of concentration.
“Driving impaired with alcohol or drugs exponentially increases the risks of a crash and places the lives of all road users at risk, including yours, your passenger’s, pedestrian’s and other driver’s.
“We have lost 17 lives on our roads in the Wide Bay Burnett district this year and that’s far too many.
“Whether it’s part of Operation Whiskey Legion, or everyday policing, we will continue to target impaired drivers to prevent road trauma in our community.”
As Operation Whiskey Legion enters its seventh day of this deployment, 289 people have been arrested on 992 charges.
Police have conducted 4558 RBTs and 242 RDTs.
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