Police conducted 2,700 breath tests on beaches across the Wide Bay Burnett district during Operation Spring Break to strengthen road safety on the sand during the school holidays.
As part of the operation, which concluded on 10 October, Highway Patrol and Tactical Crime Squad units from the Wide Bay Burnett district, assisted by the Road Policing Task Force from Brisbane, were deployed to Rainbow Beach, K'Gari and KinKuna beaches.
During targeted patrols of beaches from 20 September to 6 October, police conducted 2,700 breath tests and detected four alleged drink drivers.
Police also detected three alleged drug drivers and issued 203 traffic infringement notices (TINs) for a range of offences including speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt.
On 2 October on Middle Rocks Road, K'gari, police identified a child allegedly sitting on the front passenger's lap without a seatbelt.
A 39-year-old Tingalpa man was issued a TIN for drive motor vehicle while passenger at least 4 yrs old but < 7 yrs old unrestrained, costing $1,251 and four demerit points.
On 2 October on the beach track on K'gari, police conducted a breath test on a driver of a Toyota Hilux and detected the 55-year-old New South Wales man allegedly with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.072 per cent.
The man was charged with one count of did drive over the general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit.
He was issued with a licence suspension notice and a notice to appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on 8 October.
Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Anne Vogler said the operation was a success.
"We had police patrolling the beaches, rural roads, highways and everywhere in between to strengthen road safety during a time where we see a high traffic volume across the school holidays and back-to-school period," Superintendent Vogler said.
"We know our beaches are a place where drivers often relax their attention to the road rules, so our focus was to enforce and educate to ensure there were no tragedies.
"Seatbelts can be one of the first road rules that is dropped when driving on the sand, however that's an extremely dangerous decision.
"As one of the Fatal Five, wearing a seatbelt is an essential part of preventing serious injuries or death of yourself and your passengers in a crash.
"Even one drink driver is one too many, but considering how many people were breath tested, the results were generally positive.
"We're aiming to see zero drug or drink drivers, but the numbers from this operation show we're on the right track, and I'm pleased to see the majority of drivers are doing the right thing.
"Thank you to those in the community that respect the responsibility they carry each time they get behind the wheel, be it on the road or the sand."
Earlier: https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2025/09/19/operation-spring-break-north-coast-region/
The Queensland Police Service is committed to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.
Data shows that serious crashes can be significantly reduced when drivers recognise and avoid the 'Fatal Five' behaviours: speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue and distraction.
Road safety is everyone's responsibility. Learn more about staying safe on Queensland roads: https://www.police.qld.gov.au/initiatives/fatal-five-staying-safe-roads
