Sunshine Coast police have charged 15 people as part of a large scale high-visibility random breath testing (RBT) operation to target unsafe driving behaviours and enhance community safety.
Operation Coolsafe was held between, Saturday, 24 January and Sunday, 25 January at a number of locations across the Sunshine Coast.
During the operation, officers conducted more than 1,100 random breath tests (RBTs) resulting in six people being charged for alleged drug driving, nine for allegedly drink driving and 13 traffic infringements issued.
Around 11pm on 24 January, officers intercepted a red Toyota Yaris on the Sunshine Motorway at Pacific Paradise as part of a targeted roadside drug test operation. The driver, a 53-year-old Pacific Paradise man, allegedly returned a positive reading.
He was issued a notice to appear and charged with one count of driving while a relevant drug is present and is expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 31 March.
Just after midnight on 25 January, officers intercepted a black Audi Q5 on the Sunshine Coast Motorway, Bli Bli as part of Operation Coolsafe.
The driver, a 43-year-old Mudjimba man allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.135 per cent. His licence was suspended, issued a notice to appear and charged with one count of was in charge of a motor vehicle when over the middle alcohol limit.
He is expected to appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 10 February.
About 10 minutes later, officers intercepted the same black Audi Q5 on Sundew Street where the driver, a 38-year-old Mudjimba woman who had allegedly left the RBT site with two children in the car, allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.151 per cent.
Her licence was immediately suspended, and she was issued with a notice to appear and charged with one count of driving under the influence of liquor.
She is expected to appear before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 24 February.
Around 11.25pm on 24 January, officers intercepted a white SsangYong on David Low Way at Pacific Paradise as part of targeted roadside breath testing.
The driver, a 60-year-old Pacific Paradise woman returned a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.097 per cent and was issued with a notice to appear and charged with one count of drive over the general alcohol limit.
She is expected to appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 10 February.
At 9.30pm on 24 January, officers intercepted white Toyota Hilux on David Low Way at Pacific Paradise as part of targeted roadside breath testing.
The driver, a 25-year-old Palmview woman allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.087 per cent and returned a positive roadside drug test reading. Her licences was suspended and she was charged with one count each of did drive motor vehicle when over the middle alcohol limit and driving while relevant drug is present.
She is expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 9 March.
Coolum Beach Sergeant Joel Bryant said despite ongoing enforcement activities and media campaigns police continue to encounter road trauma related to liquor and drug affected drivers.
“Police experience what the public does not; seeing the bodies of deceased victims, and the emotional toll of delivering death messages to victims’ families of avoidable road tragedies. It is a traumatic experience, not only for the families and loved ones but also for all front-line workers which can cause lifelong impacts”, said Sergeant Bryant.
“If you drink or drug drive, you’re not just irresponsible, you’re dangerous to other road users; an apology won’t reverse the agonising regret and remorse you’ll experience if you injure or kill another person on a road driving affected by liquor or drugs.”
