Police have detected three motorists driving while disqualified, including one driver caught twice in a 48-hour period and another three times in three weeks, in the states south in recent days.
About 9.40am Thursday (1 April 2021), officers were conducting stationary random breath testing along Pearson Street, Wagga Wagga.
Police stopped a blue Hyundai sedan before the driver was unable to produce a licence. Inquiries revealed he was disqualified from driving until the middle of the year. The 35-year-old man was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice (CAN).
The following day (Friday 2 April 2021) about 2.15pm, the same driver was allegedly detected travelling west on the Sturt Highway in excess of the posted 100kph speed limit. Officers stopped the vehicle.
It will be alleged that the male supplied false details to police before his identity was confirmed. He was arrested and taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and driver/rider state false name or home address.
The Turvey Park man was granted conditional bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday 9 June 2021.
About 4.50pm yesterday (Friday 2 April 2021), officers observed a white Holden Commodore driving west along Bardia Avenue, Ashmont, with extensive windscreen damage.
Officers stopped the Commodore and spoke with the 41-year-old driver. Inquiries ascertained the man's licence had been disqualified in December 2000 for forty years. It was also established that the Commodore was unregistered and uninsured.
The Ashmont man was issued with traffic infringement notices for driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle. He will also be served with a Future CAN for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period 2nd plus subsequently offence, to appear before Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
About 6am today (Saturday 3 April 2021), officers stopped a black Holden Commodore travelling south on Kooringal Road, East Wagga Wagga, for a mobile random alcohol/drug test.
The 28-year-old male driver was unable to produce his licence. Inquiries by officers revealed his licence had been disqualified earlier in the year.
The driver also allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test.
Officers arrested the Marrar man and took him to Wagga Wagga Police Station where a secondary drug test also returned a positive reading.
He was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period 2nd plus subsequent offence. The man has been bail refused to appear tomorrow (Sunday 4 April 2021) before Wagga Wagga Local Court.
Further analysis of this result is to be conducted before any action is taken.
Acting Inspector Brett Collins of the Riverina Highway Patrol Cluster said it was beyond belief that motorists who were disqualified from driving would continue to drive.
"The fact that one of these drivers was caught driving on April Fool's Day I think says it all," said Acting Inspector Collins.
"I cannot believe that this same driver then had the audacity to get behind the wheel again the following day."
"Be rest assured that if any motorist wants to drive when they have been banned from doing so they will face the full force of the law."
"I would urge the public that if they are aware of anyone driving while disqualified to report the matter to police immediately."
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
