Police have praised the behaviour of racegoers throughout Bathurst and Mt Panorama during this year’s Bathurst 1000 six-day operation.
Operation Bathurst 2021 – a high visibility operation targeting traffic offences and antisocial behaviour at this year’s Bathurst 1000 – commenced on Tuesday (30 November 2021) and concluded yesterday (Sunday 5 December 2021).
Throughout the operation, police conducted 6277 random breath tests, detected 256 exceed speed limit offences, issued 568 traffic penalty infringement notices and conducted 154 business inspections.
Chifley Police District Commander, Acting Superintendent Bruce Grassick would like to thank patrons, business and motorists for their behaviour during Bathurst 1000.
“This operation has been made successful this year with the support of our partner agencies.
“As motorists begin to leave Bathurst today, please plan your trip, exercise patience and travel safely,” A/Supt Grassick Said.
Items of interest from the operation include:
- About 11.30am on Wednesday (1 December 2021), officers attached to Bathurst Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Lambert Street, Bathurst, as the driver – a 30-year-old woman – was allegedly not wearing a seatbelt. She was subjected to a random breath test, returning a negative result, however returned positive result to a random drug test. She was arrested for the purpose of secondary testing, which will be sent for further analysis. The woman was issued a notice of prohibition from driving
- About 10.15am on Thursday (2 December 2021), officers were conducting random vehicle checks at a checkpoint on Barry Gurdon Drive, Mt Panorama, when they stopped a gold Nissan Patrol. The drug detection dog searched the vehicle indicating drugs. Officers searched the vehicle and located a bag containing white powder, believed to be cocaine. The 22-year-old driver was charged with possess prohibited drug. He was issued a future court attendance notice to appear at Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday 12 January 2021. He was issued a banning notice from attending the Bathurst 1000 event.
- Later the same day about 1.50pm, at the same checkpoint, a red Holden Colorado was stopped and searched by the drug detection dog. Officers searched the vehicle and located a bag containing white powder, believed to be cocaine. The 24-year-old driver was charged with possess prohibited drug. He was issued a future court attendance notice to appear at Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday 12 January 2021. He was issued a banning notice from attending the Bathurst 1000 event.
- Bathurst Highway Patrol stopped a white Mazda utility on William Street, Bathurst, about 5.20pm on Friday (3 December 2021), for a random breath and drug test. The 29-year-old driver returned a negative result, however, returned a positive result for drugs. The man was arrested and taken to Bathurst Police Station for secondary testing. He was issued a notice of prohibition from driving and a number of defect infringements
