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A total of 79 people have been charged with drink-driving offences after 25,256 random breath tests were conducted during a two-day traffic operation targeting drivers in Sydney's south-west.
Operation Fume began Friday (2 June 2023), targeting drug and alcohol driving offences as well as general road compliance on the M5/Hume Highway between Beverly Hills and Menangle.
The high-visibility operation involved officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, supported by general duties officers from local police districts.
Operation Fume commander, Inspector Gregory Donaldson, said operations such as Fume were conducted to ensure the safety of all road users.
"Despite motorists being fully aware that NSW Police regularly target alcohol and drug-impaired drivers through these types of operations, it is very disturbing how many people are still caught committing offences of this nature," said Insp Donaldson
"It's well-documented that alcohol is one of the major causes of crashes on our roads, yet a concerning number of drivers still choose to drink and drive, putting the lives of other motorists at risk.
"The message is simple: don't drive if you've been drinking," Insp Donaldson said.
Of the 79 people charged with PCA offences, eight drivers were charged after returning alleged high-range readings, 37 mid-range, 29 low-range, and five special/novice range.
Police also conducted 672 roadside drug tests, resulting in 38 positive drug tests. Further action is dependent on the outcomes once test results are returned. The licences of all drivers returning a positive roadside drug test are suspended for 24 hours.
There were 30 fines issued for mobile phone offences, 25 for restraint offences, and 29 for speeding.
A total of 37 vehicles were searched, 41 people were searched and eight drug detections were made during the operation, with police seizing illicit drugs including ice, cocaine and cannabis. Inquiries are continuing.
Incidents of note:
• A 36-year-old woman has been charged with high-range PCA after allegedly failing to stop at an RBT site at Riverwood about 11pm yesterday (Saturday 3 June 2023). The driver was directed to stop at the RBT site on the Belmore Road M5 exit ramp but allegedly drove away. She was stopped a short distance away and subjected to a roadside test which proved positive. She was arrested and subjected to a BAS which returned an alleged reading of 0.159. She's been charged with high-range PAC and her licence has been suspended. The woman, from Lugarno, has been given a court attendance notice to Bankstown Court.
• A 20-year-old woman has been charged with novice-range PCA after being stopped while driving south on the Hume Motorway at Woodbine about 2am today (Sunday 4 June 2023). The P2-licence holder returned an alleged BAS reading of 0.19 and her licence was suspended immediately. The woman, from Edensor Park, has been issued with a court attendance notice.
• A 54-year-old man has been charged with mid-range PCA after being stopped at a stationary RBT site on Campbelltown Road at Campbelltown about 9.45pm yesterday (Saturday 3 June 2023). The man was arrested and subjected to a BAS which returned an alleged reading of 0.081. His licence was suspended and the man, from Bankstown, will appear in Campbelltown Local Court in coming weeks.
• A 33-year-old Liverpool man has been fined $603 and his licence suspended for three months after returning an alleged reading of 0.062 after he was stopped at a stationary RBT site on the Hume Highway in Partridge VC rest area at Menangle, about 12.35am today (Sunday 4 June 2023).
• A Schofields man, also aged 33, has been has been fined $603 and his licence suspended for three months for low-range PCA after he was stopped and breath-tested on the M5 at Hammondville, about 9.15pm yesterday (Saturday 3 June 2023).
Further operations will be conducted in coming months.
