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Police ‘disappointed’ with weekend drink-drive blitz results

By The Echo

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Police have expressed disappointment over the results of a Northern Rivers drink-driving blitz over the weekend.

They say Operation Drink Drive 2 was a state-wide traffic operation that started midnight Friday and finished midnight Sunday, targeting drink/drug driving, driving when fatigued, speeding, wearing of seat belts and mobile phone offences.

‘It is disappointing to see so many drivers continuing to drive with drugs or alcohol in their system,’ a media release from Tweed/Byron police read.

Officers charged a 42-year-old male from Stokers Siding with High Range Drink Driving (0.174) around nine o’clock Friday morning after a car crash there.

They say he had been drinking wine prior to driving and it was lucky nobody was hurt.

Three others were charged with drink-driving in the high range: a 26-year-old woman from Bilambil Heights caught at Tweed Heads after midnight Saturday; a 31-year-old Victorian man caught in Byron Bay about 3.00am on Sunday; and a 43-year-old Victorian male caught on the Pacific Highway at Tweed Heads about 11.30pm on Saturday 2 November.

The 43-year-old man was reportedly celebrating his birthday and had drunk 10 pints of beer before deciding to drive.

Police also charged a 24-year-old male with Driving under the influence of a drug and drug possession after a traffic stop at Sextons Hill, Banora Point, about 2.30am on Saturday.

They say he was affected by drugs and that they found cannabis in his car.

All drivers listed received bail and are due to appear at Tweed Heads and Byron Bay Local Courts on various dates, police said, but licences have been suspended.

They say ‘numerous’ other drivers were found drink-driving in the mid-range and low range level offences.

Operation Drink Drive 2 is officially over but police say they continue to focus on drink and drug driving offences on the Northern Rivers.

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