Officers from Coolum have been left disappointed after two people were caught drink driving in the first hours of the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) Easter school holidays road safety operation.
Around 3pm on 4 April, police were conducting roadside breath testing in a school zone on Peregian Springs Drive when a 34-year-old Peregian Springs woman was allegedly detected drink driving.
The woman was taken to Coolum Police Station for a secondary test which allegedly returned a Breath Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reading of 0.154 per cent.
She was charged with one count of high range drink driving, her driver’s licence was suspended, and she is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 15 April.
Shortly after, a 49-year-old Peregian Springs man was also allegedly detected drink driving.
The man was taken to Coolum Police Station for a secondary test which allegedly returned a BAC reading of 0.053 per cent.
He was charged with one count of driving over the general alcohol limit, his driver’s licence was suspended, and he is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 5 May.
Coolum Police Station Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Hardy Wirth said it was disappointing to detect two drivers allegedly over the legal alcohol limit in a school zone, the day before school holidays.
“The message is simple, there is no excuse for drink or drug driving, we don’t want to see anyone’s holiday ending in tragedy,” Senior Sergeant Wirth said.
“If you are going to be enjoying drinks over the holidays, have a plan to get home, don’t risk your life and the lives of others behind the wheel.”
Sadly, 65 lives have been lost on Queensland roads so far this year, with four of them on the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast police will be conducting high-visibility and covert operations to target dangerous driving and prevent road trauma between April 4 and April 21.
