Police have charged four men with traffic and drug-related offences and issued 80 infringement notices during a road blitz across the state’s Riverina Region.
Operation Spoiler is a high-visibility road policing operation targeting criminal activity, anti-social behaviour, drink-driving and road-related offences.
The operation was conducted by officers from Riverina Traffic and Highway Patrol and South West Puma Regional, between last Thursday (14 October 20210) and yesterday (Monday 18 October 2021).
Police conducted proactive patrols over 6700km, covering the regional areas of Hay, Balranald, Tooleybuc, Griffith, Leeton, Narranderra, Hillston, Weethallee, Ungarie, West Wyalong, Carrathool, Ivanhoe, Lake Cargelligo, Goolgowi, and Barrellan.
During the operation, officers conducted 147 roadside breath tests, with four returning a positive indication for the presence of a prohibited drug. The results will undergo further testing.
In total, 80 Traffic Infringement Notices (TIN) were issued, and seven people were charged with 21 offences.
Two motorists had their licenses suspended, and nine vehicles were issued with defect notices.
Of note, about 10.15am last Thursday (14 October 2021), officers were patrolling the Narrandera area when they observed two motorcycles without registration plates enter a service station on the Newell Highway.
One of the riders allegedly accelerated from police, while the second rider became physically/verbally aggressive while talking to officers.
Checks revealed the 27-year-old man was unlicensed and the motorcycle had been reported stolen from an address at Griffith in August this year.
Following a search of the man, officers located and seized an amount of methylamphetamine (ice).
He was arrested and taken to Narrandera Police Station, where he allegedly returned a positive result to drug test. The results have been sent for further analysis.
The Yanco man was subsequently charged with six offences including, unlicensed for Class, Class C, R, LR or MR, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, resist officer in execution of duty, possess prohibited drug, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, and interfere with person’s enjoyment or risk safety.
He appeared at Leeton Local Court the same day, where he was granted strict conditional bail to re-appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Tuesday 19 October 2021).
Following further inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested at Narrandera Police Station about 6.30pm on Friday (15 October 2021).
Checks revealed that the man was disqualified from driving until March next year.
The Narrandera man was charged with unlicensed for Class, Class C, R, LR or MR, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and use registrable vehicle not display authorised number-plates.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear in Narrandera Local Court on Friday 22 October 2021.
Similar operations are expected to continue in the future.
