Officer Charged Over Drink Driving - Northern Region

An off-duty police officer has been charged after allegedly drink driving in the state's north.

About 11.30am yesterday (Saturday 21 February 2026), officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle traveling northbound on the Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour.

The driver - a 53-year-old male sergeant attached to a Northern Region Command - was subjected to a roadside breath test, which allegedly return a positive reading.

He was arrested and taken to Woolgoolga Police Station where he underwent further breath analysis, which returned a reading of 0.131.

The man was later issued a Future Court Attendance Notice and charged with drive with mid-range PCA, and his driver's licence was also suspended.

About 9.15pm the same day, officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District responded to reports that members of the public had detained a motorist on Red Rock Road, Red Rock, after he was seen driving dangerously.

The driver underwent a roadside breath test that allegedly returned a positive reading.

It will also be alleged that the driver was the same off-duty officer from the earlier incident.

He was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he returned a breath analysis reading of 0.191.

The man was charged with high-range PCA and drive motor vehicle whilst licence suspended.

He was granted conditional bail and will appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday 7 April 2026 for both incidents.

The officer's employment status is under review.

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