February 23, 2016
Kingaroy police have warned there will be extra officers on the roads on the weekend of the South Burnett Wine and Food in the Park Festival (March 12).
Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police, Senior Sergeant Duane Frank, said there would be extra traffic enforcement occurring right across the weekend, not just on Saturday night.
Officers would be conducting random drink and drug tests.
“If people make the unsafe choice to drink and drive, or use drugs and drive, there will be an extremely high chance that they will be stopped by police,” Snr Sgt Frank said.
He said people who were over 18 had the right to enjoy having a few drinks at the Festival, but people needed to drink responsibly.
“They should also look after their mates and make the appropriate transport arrangements ahead of time to get home,” he said.
Snr Sgt Frank said this year a specifically designated area had been set aside for alcohol consumption.
This had been worked out between officials from Liquor Licensing, police and event organisers to improve safety at the event.
“We don’t want a repeat of last year when we had a large number of grossly intoxicated young people, including a number of females, and we had to call ambulances,” Snr Sgt Frank said.
“Police are not there as babysitters. Action will be taken.”
Last year, Kingaroy police charged eight people with public nuisance, public urination or various liquor offences on the evening of the Festival.
As well, the drug-testing unit detected five drugged drivers and two drivers were charged with drink-driving.
At the time, Acting Sgt Jason Newton said police were disappointed with the level of public drunkenness.
“It only takes a bare minimum of people to sour an event. The vast majority went there, behaved themselves and had a good time,” he said.
“The biggest disappointment was the grossly intoxicated people leaving the Festival, especially young women who clearly had had too much to drink.”
Police were so concerned they had called paramedics about 8:30pm to attend to two women who were vomiting in Haly Street.
