Almost 80 people were arrested for drink driving following the launch of the multi-site booze bus ‘Operation Nabbed – Northern’ on Friday and Saturday nights (March 1 – 2).
One of those arrested was more than 7 times over the legal limit.
During the two-night operation, police placed 17 random breath testing sites at exits along the southbound lanes of the M1 (Pacific Motorway) between Tweed Heads and Ballina.
It was the first time such a large-scale operation has been conducted on the North Coast.
The far north region’s traffic tactician, inspector Peter McMenamin, said while the main role of the operation was enforcement, it was also about educating those drivers who were still embracing the myth that ‘one more for the road’ would be okay.
‘If you are going have a few drinks before dinner, strongly consider having a sober driver around for the rest of the night,’ Inspector McMenamin said.
‘While we have 78 people going before the courts in the coming weeks, we also spoke to a considerable number of drivers who were perilously close to being over the limit themselves.
‘So if you are thinking about that one more for the road, may we suggest no more for the road.’
Of note during the two-day operation was the arrest of a 37-year-old man from Arundel in Queensland about 9.30pm yesterday (Saturday 2 March 2019). He returned a positive breath test after his car was stopped on the M1 at Tweed Heads, near the Gold Coast Highway exit. A subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.362. His driving privileges in NSW were suspended. He was issued with a Court Attendance Notice to appear in Tweed Heads Local Court on 25 March 2019.
Results
Breath tests performed – 8091
Drink Driving Charges laid – 78
Traffic Infringement Notices Issued – 338
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