A man has been charged after police allegedly located two replica firearms in a car that was stopped at a random breath test site near Tweed Heads on day five of Operation Safe Arrival.
The road toll during the operation has increased to three after a 52-year-old man died in a single-vehicle crash in the state's north.
Operation Safe Arrival, the State's Christmas/New Year road safety operation, started at 12.01am on Friday 21 December 2018, and will continue until 11.59pm on Tuesday1 January 2019.
Double demerits are in place during the entire operation for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle-helmet offences.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, Traffic & Highway Patrol Commander, said it is never easy to hear someone has lost their life particularly on Christmas Day.
"I can't emphasise enough the importance of ensuring drivers take regular breaks," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"We also want to remind drivers that officers can detect a variety of criminal offences from an initial traffic stop so don't think you are above the law by driving around with illegal weapons or drugs."
It has also been interesting that police have detected a variety of criminal offences, other than traffic matters, during Operation Safe Arrival.
Some examples of inappropriate driver behaviour detected during day five of Operation Safe Arrival include,
- A man was stopped at a random breath test site in South Tweed Heads when police allegedly located a replica rifle and handgun. The man was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and two counts of unsafe storage of a firearm. He was refused bailed to appear in Tweed Heads Local Court today (Wednesday 26 December 2018).
- Just after 5pm officers from Lake Macquarie Highway Patrol stopped an alleged stolen Ford Falcon on the Pacific Highway at Holmesville. Police located cannabis in the boot and the driver was disqualified from driving. He was charged with supply prohibited drug and drive whilst disqualified. Investigations into the stolen car are ongoing. He was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 26 December 2018).
- About 5.30pm, police stopped a car displaying P-plates just east of Wilcannia, on the Barrier Highway, for the purpose of a random breath test. The driver, a 54-year-old man, returned a positive test, and was arrested before being taken to Wilcannia Police Station. His P1 provisional driver's licence was suspended, and he was charged with high-range PCA. He is due to appear at Wilcannia Local Court on Wednesday 23 January 2019.
- About 7.30am, police were conducting random breath test on Spit Road, Seaforth when a driver hit a safety pillar causing it to break and ricochet onto the other side of the road, narrowly missing travelling cars. The man returned an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.156 and was issued with a court attendance notice for high-range PCA and expired licence.
Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on 21 December 2018):
Total infringements issued (not speeding): 7515
Speed infringements: 4763
Breath tests: 217,835
Drink-driving charges: 251
Lives lost: 3
