Police are continuing to see risky-driver behaviour on Day 3 of Operation Safe Return with one woman stopped twice by police and charged with successive high-range PCAs and another allegedly caught drink-driving with a child in the car.
The high-visibility policing operation began on Friday (24 January 2020) and concludes at 11.59pm tonight (Monday 27 January 2020) and is targeting drink-and-drug-driving among other poor driving behaviour.
About 6.50am (Sunday 26 January 2020), police stopped a black Toyota Aurion on James Street, Redfern and subjected the 26-year-old female driver to a roadside breath test, that returned a positive result.
The woman allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.163. Police also observed three young adult passengers inside the vehicle, despite the woman holding a P1 licence.
Her licence was suspended, and she was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for high-range PCA and an infringement notice for not display P-plates.
Just before 7.30am on the same morning, police observed the 26-year-old woman driving southbound on Regent Street, Redfern. She was stopped and participated in a second roadside breath test that allegedly returned a positive result.
She was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.153.
The woman was charged with drive with high-range PCA (second offence) and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended.
She was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 2 March 2020 for all charges.
Later in the day at 11.25am, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting stationary road side breath testing on New South Head Road, Bellevue Hill when they stopped a 49-year-old woman driving a Range Rover SUV with a 5-year-old passenger inside.
The woman, from Potts Point, was after returning a positive result to roadside breath test. She was taken to Waverley Police Station where she underwent a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.086.
She was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for mid-range PCA to appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 18 February 2020.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, reminds the public that this type of driving behaviour will not be tolerated by police.
“It is alarming to see the number of people getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, endangering not only themselves but their passengers and other people on the road.
“Do not make the mistake of pushing yourself while driving over the weekend. Know your limit, take your time, take a break and look after people around you.”
Other items of interest on day three (Sunday 26 January 2020) of Operation Safe Return include;
- Around 3.30am, police stopped a 41-year-old woman on Parkes Street in Wellington, near Dubbo, where she participated in a roadside breath test, returning a positive reading. She was arrested and taken to Wellington Police Station where a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.214. She will be issued a Court Attendance Notice and appear at Dubbo Local Court on a later date.
- At 5.30pm, a 37-year-old man was observed failing to stop at a stationary roadside breath test on Henry Lawson Drive, Georges Hall. He was stopped by police nearby on Haig Avenue and submitted to a roadside breath test that returned a positive reading. He was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station where a breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.210. He was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 27 February 2020.
- At 5.30pm, a 21-year-old man with a UK driver’s licence was stopped for a roadside breath test on Bessemer Street, Mittagong where he allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Southern Highlands Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.253. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with high-range PCA and will appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 3 March 2020.
Key statistics (progressive total):
Speed infringements: 3,164
Breath tests: 141,974
PCA charges: 214
Major crashes: 217
Fatalities: 2
