An off-duty NSW Police officer will face court in April after allegedly being caught drunk driving twice in the same day on the state’s north coast.
In a statement, NSW Police said that at around 11.30am on Saturday, 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,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“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 for both incidents.
NSW Police said the officer’s employment status is under review.
