More than 3,100 traffic infringements were issued and 223 people detected drug-driving during a state-wide traffic operation at the weekend.
Operation Fume ran on Friday 9 September and 10 September 2022, targeting drug and alcohol driving offences, and general road compliance across the state.
The high-visibility operation involved officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, supported by general duties officers from local commands.
During the operation, police conducted 11,890 roadside drug tests, resulting in 223 positive drug detections. The results will be sent for further analysis.
Police also conducted 30,744 random breath tests, which resulted in 115 people being charged with PCA offences.
Further, more than 3,100 traffic infringements were issued to drivers, including 640 for speeding, 56 for mobile phone usage, 62 for seatbelt offences and more than 2,340 for other driving offences.
Some incidents of note include:
Just before 5pm on Friday (9 September 2022), officers attached to The Hume Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the Hume Highway, Goulburn, when they detected a BMW 320D Coupe travelling southbound at 163km/h, in a 110km/h signposted area. Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver- a 25-year-old man – who was subsequently issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit by over 45kph. Later that same evening, officers detected a Mitsubishi ASX travelling at 163km/h in the same 110km/h signposted area. The vehicle was stopped and the driver – a 27-year-old man – was subsequently issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit by over 45kph. Both men had their driver's licence suspended, and being the registered owners, their vehicles were seized and impounded for a period of three months.
Just after midnight, (Sunday 11 September 2022), police observed a vehicle allegedly driving in a concerning manner on New South Head Road, Double Bay. The vehicle stopped in a bus stop and the driver exited the vehicle to go into a convenience store. Police stopped and spoke with the driver – a 48-year-old man – who claimed to be a tourist. Subsequent inquiries revealed the man was a Punchbowl resident and disqualified from driving. He was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with eight offences including make and use false instrument to influence exercise of public duty, not give left change of direction signal with lights, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, stop in bus zone and other traffic charges. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court today (Sunday 11 September 2022).
About 3am (Sunday 11 September 2022), officers attached to Nyngan Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop a Mazda 3 on Marshall Street, Cobar, due to the vehicle's manner of driving. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit commenced. A short time later, the Mazda 3 was located at the intersection of Leah and Brough Streets, where the 17-year-old learner driver was arrested. He was subjected to a roadside breath test which allegedly produced a positive result. The teen was taken to Cobar Police Station and submitted to a secondary breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.133. He was charged with police pursuit - drive dangerously, mid-range PCA and learner not accompanied by licensed driver, police officer or tester. The teen's licence was also suspended. The teen was given conditional bail to appear at Cobar Court on Wednesday 28 September 2022.
Further proactive operations can be expected in future.
