Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command have laid a number of charges, as part of Operation Fume, a high visibility road operation targeting alcohol and drug driving last week.
Operation Fume ran from Thursday 7 March until Friday 8 March 2024 across the Wollongong, Lake Illawarra and South Coast Police Districts.
The high-visibility operation involved officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command for the Illawarra and Far South sectors.
Police issued 55 traffic infringements, 21 speeding infringements, and charged 32 people for traffic offences: including drink and drug driving.
Police conducted 776 random breath tests and 698 random drug tests.
Some examples of driver behaviour detected during the operation include;
• About 6.25pm on (Thursday 7 March 2024), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle at Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra for a random breath test. The 54-year-old female driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Oak Flats Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.328. She was charged with drive with high range PCA and will appear before Kiama Local Court on Monday 6 May 2024.
• About 11.45pm on (Friday 8 March 2024), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Lysaght Street Fairy Meadow. A 40-year-old male from Unanderra was subjected to a roadside breath and drug test, returning a positive result for drugs. Following a search of the vehicle, Police seized an extendable baton. He was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station. He was charged with possessing a prohibited weapon. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 26 March 2024.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Illawarra Sector Inspector Michael McKechnie said it's frustrating that those doing the wrong thing are continuing to put members of the public at risk.
"It's disappointing that drivers continue to make poor choices that put themselves and other members of the public at risk. Police will continue to target those who drive under the influence of alcohol or with illicit drugs in their system," Inspector McKechnie said.
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. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
