Day Three (19 June 2016) of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend traffic operation has seen motorists continuing to put lives at risk by driving while under the influence of alcohol, NSW Police say.
Operation Stay Alert began at 12.01am on Friday (10 June 2016) and runs until midnight tonight today.
About 6.45pm yesterday, police stopped a vehicle on Forest Way, Belrose, for the purposes of a roadside breath test.
The 49-year-old woman, who had a four-year-old child in the car, failed the test and was arrested.
She allegedly returned a breath analysis of 0.108. She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice to attend Manly Local Court on Wednesday 13 July 2016.
The woman was one of 46 people caught drink-driving across the state on Day Three of Operation Stay Alert, with more than 63,000 breath tests conducted.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, says while the number of people drink-driving is down from last year, it is still concerning.
"Drinking alcohol and using drugs and then getting behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
"It only takes one wrong decision for a life to change forever and it appears the messages aren’t getting across."
"We will continue to have all available resources on our roads today while people are travelling home, so please slow down and stay safe."
The Queen’s Birthday long weekend road toll stands at three, which is the same as this time in 2015.
Double demerits remain in place for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and helmet offences. Police remind motorists to take care when returning home – to take regular stops if driving long distances, and to take advantage of rest stops on the way.
Other incidents reported on our roads in the last 24 hours include;
Warnervale:
At 6.30pm yesterday, police stopped an unregistered vehicle on Sparks Road, Warnervale. The driver, a 24-year-old man, was spoken to before police searched him and the vehicle. It will be alleged, police located two knives and 24g of methylamphetamine with an estimated street value in excess of $12,000. Further checks revealed the driver was disqualified for eight years and the car was unregistered. The man was charged with supply prohibited drug, drive whilst disqualified and state false name to police officer.
Morisset:
Just before 10pm yesterday, a white Magna sedan was stopped by police on the M1 Motorway, near the Morisset exit, after reports the vehicle was seen driving on three inflated tyres and allegedly throwing items at other vehicles. The driver, a 31-year-old man, stopped and ran away. Police commenced a short food pursuit and the man was arrested. He refused a road side breath test. The man was charged with drive while disqualified, driver manner dangerous, refuse BAS and resist arrest. He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.
Muswellbrook:
At 1.50am today, police stopped a vehicle on the New England Highway, Muswellbrook, for the purposes of a random breath test. Police spoke to the P-plate driver, a 20-year-old man, before they searched him and the car. Police allegedly located MDMA and cocaine in the vehicle. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive while disqualified and possess drug. He will face Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 18 July 2016.
Hinchinbrook:
About 8.30am today, police were conducting stationary road side breath testing on Cowpasture Road, Hinchinbrook, when they stopped a black BMW X5. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was breath tested and returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Green Valley Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis of 0.158. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for High Range PCA to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 14 July 2016.
Key Statistics (Day three only);
Speed infringements: 1350
Breath tests: 63,326
PCA charges: 46
Major crashes: 55
Key Statistics (Progressive totals);
Speed infringements: 4406
Breath tests: 184,650
PCA charges: 180
Major crashes: 221
