Operation Raid Targets Impaired Drivers in NSW

Impaired drivers were disrupted and removed from NSW roads, as police saturated the state over the weekend as part of Operation Raid.

Operation Raid 2025 commenced at 12.01am on Thursday (20 February 2025) and concluded at 11.59pm on Saturday (22 February 2025).

Police conducted 73,566 breath tests, with 166 drink driving offences and conducted 5136 drug tests with 439 people returning positive tests.

While the operation focused on detecting drivers driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the high-visibility operation saw police also detect 2684 speed related offences 454 mobile phone usage, and 182 seatbelt/helmet related offences.

Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, said it was disappointing and concerning to see so many drivers continuing to break the rules.

"To have a complete disregard for the law and to put lives at risk on the road is selfish and criminal," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.

"It's clear that some drivers continue to think they will go undetected by police, but this operation is a reminder that police will always work to disrupt dangerous drivers and remove them from our roads.

"Our goal is to keep the community safe and anyone who thinks they can get away with breaking the law should think again as many people are now facing the consequences of their actions."

Incidents of note:

• · About midnight on Saturday 22 February 2025, police stopped a Subaru hatchback that was allegedly detected speeding at 124km/h in a signposted 90km/h area on the M4 Motorway, Merrylands. The driver – a 26-year-old man – was subject to a breath test which allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station, where he was subject to a breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.123. He also allegedly returned a positive reading for cocaine. He was issued a field court attendance notice for drive with middle-range PCA and drive with mid-range PCA and illicit drug. He was also issued an infringement notice for class A motor vehicle exceed speed limit – more than 30km/h. He is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 17 April 2025. His licence was also suspended.

• About 2.05am on Sunday 23 February 2025, police conducting stationary speed enforcement detected three motorcycles allegedly speeding on the M5 Motorway at Heathcote Road. Police followed two of the vehicles, with one allegedly being detected travelling at 177km/h in a 100km/h. Police attempted to stop one of the motorcycles and when they did not stop, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was terminated when police lost sight of the vehicle. About five minutes later, the vehicle was located. The rider – a 17-year-old boy - was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, P1 driver exceed speed more than 45km/h and P1 class R drive motorcycle more than 660ml/150kw/t. He is due to appear before a children's court on Tuesday 1 April 2025.

• About 7pm on Saturday 22 February 2025, police were travelling on Thornton Road, Thornton, when they observed a ute driving in a dangerous manner. Police stopped the vehicle and sighted a mobile phone attached to the drivers side pillar streaming a video. The driver – a 45-year-old man – allegedly returned a positive breath test. He was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he underwent a breath analysis that allegedly returned a reading of 0.229. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range PCA and driver use mobile phone when not permitted. His drivers licence was also suspended. He is due to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 12 March 2025.

• About 1pm on Thursday 20 February 2025, police observed children freely moving around in the backseat of a vehicle on Victoria Road, Parramatta. Police stopped the vehicle and observed three children not properly restrained. The driver – a 34-year-old man- was issued with three infringements for drive with three passengers seatbelt/restraint not properly adjusted/ fastened.

• About 2.35pm on Thursday 20 February 2025, police stopped a vehicle for the purposes of random testing on Parramatta Road, Burwood. The driver – 31-year-old man – was subject to a breath test which returned a negative result. He was then subject to a drug test, which returned an alleged positive result to cocaine and methamphetamine. Police searched the vehicle and allegedly located a substance in the vehicle, believed to be illicit drugs that have been sent for forensic testing. The driver was arrested and taken to Burwood Police Station, where he was charged with an outstanding warrant. Inquiries are ongoing.

• About 5.50pm on Thursday 20 February 2025, a Toyota sedan was directed into a stationary random breath testing site in Rosehill. The Toyota was a rideshare vehicle with customers on board at the time. The driver – a 35-year-old man – was subject to a breath test and allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and underwent a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.071. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with low range PCA and is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 3 April 2025. His licence was also suspended.

• About 1.30am on Friday 21 February 2025, a BMW sedan was stopped on Rifle Range Road, Beelbangera, for the purposes of random testing. The driver – a 58-year-old man – allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Griffith Police Station, where he underwent a breath analysis and allegedly returned a reading of 0.194. He was issued a future court attendance notice for drive with high range PCA. He is due to appear before Griffith Local Court at a future date. His licence was also suspended.

• About 6.15pm on Friday 21 February 2025, police were called to Rosamond Street, Hornsby, following reports of a crash. Police attended and found a station wagon had crashed into a parked car. The driver – a 52-year-old man – was uninjured. He was subject to a roadside breath test which returned an allegedly positive result. He was arrested and taken to Hornsby Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis and returned an alleged reading of 0.217. He was issued a field court attendance notice for drive with high-range PCA. He is due to appear before Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 27 March 2025. His licence was also suspended.

• About 11.15pm on Thursday 20 February 2025, police detected a vehicle on Keppel Street, Bathurst, driving without its headlights on. Police stopped the vehicle and the driver – a 21-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result. The driver was arrested and taken to Bathurst Police Station where he was subject to a breath analysis that allegedly returned a reading of 0.132. He was issued a field court attendance notice for drive with middle range PCA. He is due to appear before Bathurst Local Court at a future date. His licence was also suspended.