More than 270 fines have been handed out to beach drivers on Noosa North Shore over the Easter and Labour Day long weekends.
One of the fines was issued to a 38-year-old Mooloolaba man for allegedly driving a car while a child, under four, was unrestrained and on the lap of a passenger, costing the man $1209 and four demerit points.
Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Acting Senior Sergeant Keith Preston said it was a successful deployment which targeted safety.
“A successful deployment to Noosa North Shore for us is one without crashes or deaths – that’s what we count as a good result,” Acting Senior Sergeant Preston said.
“It’s disappointing to see so many people continue to have such disregard for the safety of themselves, their passengers and the other road and beach users by driving in a dangerous manner and in dangerous cars.
“It’s a privilege to drive on the beach and we need to treat it as we would driving on the road.
“No doubt our presence on the beach, enforcement action and educational engagements corrected the behaviours of many people and provided a safer environment for all people, families and children using the beach.”
Across the collective eight-day period, 18 to 21 April and 2 to 5 May, police conducted proactive patrols of the beach, targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, driving while tired or distracted, and defective vehicles.
Police conducted 2356 random breath tests (RBTs) with seven positive results, and 195 random drug tests (RDT) which detected 10 people driving under the influence of drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Police issued 272 traffic infringement notices (TIN) for a range of offences including defective vehicles, failing to wear a seatbelt, failing to wear a motorbike helmet and using a mobile phone while driving.
A 19-year-old Wynnum West man, also a P plater, was issued five TINs equalling $6400 and 16 demerit points after allegedly being detected driving a defective vehicle under the influence of alcohol while he and two passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
A 27-year-old Newtown man was issued four TINs costing $2200 and eight demerit points for allegedly drinking alcohol while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke.
