Northern Territory Police's Southern Road Policing Unit were out and about this weekend with the goal of ensuring the safety of all participants and spectators at the 2024 Red Centre Nats and surrounds.
The event ran from Thursday 29 August to Sunday 1 September, with extra police resources drawn from Alice Springs and Territory Road Policing Divisions to assist with community safety.
The event operated from three venues:
- Lasseters Casino
- Blatherskite Park
- Alice Springs Inland Dragway
31 police members were deployed throughout the event, working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders.
The Road Policing Division conducted regular Random Breath and Drug Testing Stations across the four days, along with proactive police patrols, resulting in the following:
- 3798 negative alcohol breath tests.
- 14 positive alcohol breath tests.
- 84 negative drug tests.
- 11 positive drug tests.
- Six defected cars identified.
- Eight cautions issued.
- Seven pursuits.
- One summary infringement notice issued.
- One motor vehicle crash responded to.
- One ounce of cannabis seized.
Speed cameras were also deployed throughout town, and of the 2349 cars checked, 179 infringements were issued.
Of note, a 19-year-old female avoided a RBT resulting in a short pursuit and apprehension. She was subsequently charged with Dangerous Driving, Fail Stop RBT, Driving Unlicenced, Driving Unregistered, Driving Uninsured, and Drive Prohibited Drug.
She will appear in Alice Springs Local Court on 16 October 2024.
In total, seven arrests were made and 19 notices to appear in court were issued.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Heath said, "Police were overall happy with the way the public conducted themselves over the weekend.
"While most road users complied with the law, it was disappointing that some drivers were over the limit first thing in the morning.
"It was concerning that 13% of drivers tested at the Drug Testing Stations returned positive results for either cannabis or methamphetamine. This number is far too high.
"Nobody wants to see the number of lives lost on our roads increase further, and we will do everything in our power to keep Territorians safe on the road.
"Police will continue to be anywhere, anytime, challenging these bad behaviours and removing unsafe motorists from our roads."
