August 21, 2014
A week-long crackdown by traffic police in the South Burnett has netted five drink drivers, but police are stunned that 11 drugged drivers were also detected.
Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy police, Senior Sergeant Duane Frank, said Operation Mike Chime ran from August 14 to August 20.
“The results are extremely concerning to police,” Snr Sgt Frank said.
“The road safety message is clearly not getting out.
“It is also disappointing that the majority of the drug drivers detected were driving around during the day (when traffic is heaviest),” he said.
More than 1000 breath tests were carried out during Operation Mike Chime.
Drugs detected included cannabis, methamphetamine and amphetamine or a combination of these.
Police also issued more than 100 traffic infringement notices including speeding, failing to wear seatbelts, carrying unrestrained children and using a mobile phone while driving.
A number of heavy vehicle fatigue-related offences were also detected, including incomplete or incorrect log books and excessive driving periods.
Fifteen people were found to be driving while unlicensed while five were driving unregistered / uninsured vehicles.
One person was charged with possessing dangerous drugs.
Another driver was issued with a notice to appear in court on a charge of driving without due care and attention after police saw him crossing double lines, tailgating and driving erratically in a line of traffic ahead of the patrol car.
Snr Sgt Frank said, in total, 30 people were charged with 34 offences.
These included:
- A 32-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man who were intercepted in a stolen vehicle in Yarraman; the vehicle was allegedly taken from the Laidley area on August 8. The pair have been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle. The 19-year-old was also charged with unlicensed driving and allegedly drug-tested positive to amphetamines.
- A 17-year-old Nanango man – still on his red P Plates – who was allegedly clocked driving at 132km/h in an 80km/h zone in George Street, Nanango, on Tuesday. Snr Sgt Frank said this resulted in an automatic loss of licence for six months and a $1062 fine.
- A 19-year-old Nanango man who was stopped twice for unlicensed driving within three days. On the first occasion, police impounded his car by removing the number plates. The plates were seized for 90 days. However, just two days later, police allegedly again intercepted the same driver and the same car, without plates. Snr Sgt Frank said the Mitsubishi Lancer could now be subject to total forfeiture.
- And in another incident that stunned police, two men were pulled over during the operation and issued with tickets for speeding in River Road, Kingaroy. Both had the same excuse “they were running late for a funeral”. One was caught doing 74km/h in the 60km/h zone while the other was doing 95km/h. Ironically, the funeral was for a victim of a road traffic crash.
