Officers from the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol have issued 126 traffic infringement notices (TIN) during a four-day deployment to the Great Sandy National Park.
As part of Operation Spring Break, officers were tasked to patrol Rainbow Beach, Teerwah and the surrounds to target the Fatal Five – speeding, intoxicated driving, seatbelt or helmet misuse, distraction, and fatigue.
From 19 to 22 September, police conducted 207 breath tests and 39 drug tests. Of those tests, two people returned a positive result for drink driving and one person tested positive to drug driving.
In one instance, on 20 September, Police intercepted a vehicle on the beach in Cooloola after the driver and passengers were allegedly observed driving without seatbelts. The driver, a 22-year-old Warwick man, was issued with five TINs for driver fail to wear a seatbelt, drive defective vehicle, non-P1 type licence holder display red P plates, and two counts of drive with unrestrained passenger 16 years old or older – a combined total of $4,052 in fines.
The driver also tested positive to a drug test and was issued with a 24-hour drivers licence suspension notice and was charged with drug driving. He is expected to appear in Noosa Magistrates Court on 18 November.
On the same day in Cooloola, a 37-year-old Rochedale South man was charged with drink driving and had his licence suspended after recording a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.063.
On 21 September in Teerwah, a 28-year-old Spring Hill man was charged with drink driving and had his licence suspended after recording a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.141.
Queensland Police say Highway Patrol officers will continue to be deployed to the Great Sandy National Park throughout the remainder of the school holidays.
Sunshine Coast Chief Inspector Michael Miley said the beach is not the place to relax, if driving a vehicle.
“It’s concerning to see drivers detected for speeding and drink or drug driving on the sand so close to campers and beach goers,” Chief Inspector Miley said.
“Please drive with extreme caution and be aware of your environment.
“Expect to be intercepted by police if you’re doing the wrong thing and putting the life of yourself, your passengers or the community at risk.”
