Police charge man with high-range drink-driving during Operation Trance in Western Region

Police have charged seven people, including a man with high-range drink-driving, following a high-visibility road safety enforcement operation conducted across Oxley Police District at the weekend.

Operation Trance, conducted by North West Region Traffic and Highway Patrol Command commenced 3pm last Friday (15 October 2021) and concluded about 12am today (Monday 18 October 2021), targeting driving offences in and around Oxley Police District.

During the operation, police conducted 220 random breath tests and charged seven people with high to low-range drink driving offences.

Police conducted 60 random drug tests, with seven people returning a positive indication for the presence of a prohibited drug.

In total, 12 people were charged and an additional 63 Traffic Infringement Notices (TIN) were issued for a range of traffic-related offences.

Of note, about 12.20am on Saturday (16 October 2021), officers from Oxley Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting proactive patrols, when they stopped a Toyota Landcruiser on Coonabarabran Road at Spring Ridge.

The driver – a 27-year-old man – was subjected to a roadside breath test and allegedly returned a positive result.

He was subsequently arrested and underwent a secondary breath analysis, returning an alleged reading of 0.154.

The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice (CAN) for drive with high range PCA and will appear at Quirindi Local Court on Wednesday 20 October 2021.

North West Region Traffic Manager, Peel Sector, Inspector Kelly Wixx, said police will continue to maintain a presence on backroads and within rural communities, following a significant number of offences detected over the last three days.

“Driving whilst impaired by alcohol or drugs and speeding are still the main contributing factors of death or serious injury on our regional roads,” Insp Wixx said.

“We urge you to make good decisions when driving, as the lives of you, your passengers and other road users are in your hands.

“We will continue to saturate the roads so that we reach as many communities in regional areas as possible and continue to provide support to local Police Districts to prevent and deter crime,” Insp Wixx said.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.

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