Unlicensed driver charged with high-range drink-driving after allegedly crashing into parked cars and assaulting police at Panania overnight.
Shortly before 11pm yesterday (Friday 25 December 2020), officers from Bankstown Police Area Command were called to Truscott Street and found a Lexus had hit two parked cars.
The driver, a 55-year-old man was subjected to a roadside breath test returning a positive result and became aggressive, assaulting officers when they attempted to arrest him. The man was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.179.
He has been charged with take & drive conveyance w/o consent of owner, two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, drive with high range PCA, and unlicensed driver. He is due to appear in court at a later date.
The state-wide road-safety operation started at midnight Thursday 24 December 2020 and concludes at 11.59pm on Sunday 3 January 2021.
Double-demerit points are in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
NSW Police officers will also be targeting other high-risk driver behaviour, including the Four Ds; drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving.
So far, nearly 1,350 speeding fines and more than 1,000 infringement notices have been issued for other driving offences.
Police are also concerned about the high number of provisionally licensed drivers that are being caught for serious speeding offences.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb, said it was disappointing to see people were still taking risks on the road.
"It's concerning to see people behaving irresponsibly and putting their own, and other people's lives at risk, speeding or driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol" Assistant Commissioner Webb said.
"It's also a timely reminder that people should have a Plan B if they are celebrating with alcohol and make sure to have a designated driver,"
"We also want to stress again and again that road users should prioritise arriving safely, and not quickly."
Assistant Commissioner Webb said.
Items of interest from day two includes;
About 12:55am yesterday (Friday 25 December 2020) officers from the Murrumbidgee Police District observed a 23-year-old man riding an unregistered motorcycle along Macarthur Street, Griffith where it collided with a gutter. The rider produced a learner driver's licence and was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning positive result. He was arrested and taken to Griffith Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.163. The man was issued a court attendance notice for high range PCA, unlicensed for class, use unregistered registerable motor vehicle and use uninured motor vehicle. He is due to appear at Griffith Local Court on Wednesday 10 February 2021. His licence was also suspended.
Just after 5:30am, officers from The Hills Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement on the M2 Motorway, Baulkham Hills, when they detected a Toyota Corolla travelling at up to 157kph within the 100kph sign posted area. Police stopped the vehicle and the d17-year-old driver produced a P1 driver's licence. He was issued with an infringement notice for exceed speed more than 45kph incurring a fine of $2520 and 12 demerit points. His licence was also suspended for six months.
About 5.40am, officers from Leichardt Highway Patrol stopped a BMW on the Princes Highway at Tempe after it was allegedly detected travelling between 95-105kph in a 60kph zone. The driver, a 25-year-old man, was breath tested, returning a positive result. He was taken to Newtown Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.128. He was charged with drive with middle range PCA and will appear at Newtown Local Court on Monday 8 February 2021.
Just before 11:45am, officers from the Hume Police District stopped a Ford Territory travelling on Lachlan Valley Way, Kangiara, after it was reportedly seen driving erratically and with five children in the rear seats. The driver, a 28-year-old man, was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was taken to Yass Police Station where he returned a positive breath analysis of 0.071. The man was issued with an infringement notice for drive with low range prescribed concentration of alcohol. His licence was also suspended.
Just before 10:30pm, officers from Batemans Bay Highway Patrol detected a Volkswagen Gold travelling at 132kph in a 100kph zone on the Princes Highway, Benandarah. Police attempted to intercept the vehicle when it allegedly accelerated away from them. The Volkswagen then reached an estimated speed of more than 180kph before the vehicle was stopped. The driver, a 34-year-old man, produced a P1 provisional licence that was endorsed suspended. He was issued an infringement notice for exceed speed more than 45 km/h and vehicles registration plates were confiscated. He was also issued a court attendance notice for drive while suspended and is due to appear at Batemans Bay Local Court on Wednesday 3 February 2021.
About 1:10am today (Saturday 26 December 2020), officers from Riverina Highway Patrol stopped a Hyundai I20 travelling on Colin Knott Drive, Estella for a random breath test. The driver, a 48-year-old woman, returned a positive result and was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.201. The woman was issued with a court attendance notice for high range PCA and she is due to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court next year. Her licence was also suspended.
Key statistics (progressive total):
Speed infringements: 1320
Breath tests: 30,121
PCA charges: 63
Major crashes: 105
Fatalities: 1
