Police target illegal beach driving at Coonar and Kinkuna, Bundaberg

Drivers have been caught out in a dangerous trend as police crackdown at a popular beach in response to resident complaints.

The popular beaches were targeted in the police operation.

Police are cracking down on four-wheel-drives with illegal defects as well as poor driving behaviour at a popular beach in Bundaberg.

Bundaberg Police have conducted a four-day road safety operation across Coonar and Kinkuna regions where they examined vehicles and conducted breath tests.

The operation led to a number of charges as well as two cars being immediately grounded and unable to be driven.

“There is a current trend in four-wheel-drive users illegally modifying their vehicles, which in turn cause safety issues,” a spokesperson said.

“If these modified vehicles are being driven dangerously, it dramatically increases the risk of a fatal or serious crash.”

Seven traffic infringement notices were issued, including driving a defective vehicle, defective vehicle not complying with vehicle standards and defective vehicle being unsafe.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Police said the operation was sparked following community outrage over the way the popular beaches were treated.

An aerial shot of Kinkuna beach, part of the Burrum Coast National Park.

“Police have been conducting targeted traffic enforcement, due to numerous complaints from nearby residents about repeated poor driving behaviour on Kinkuna beach,” a spokesperson said.

The popular coastal regions are known for off-roading and beach driving tracks with camping in the Kinkuna area only accessible by 4WD cars.

Kinkuna is also known as a hotspot for hooning as reported by Queensland Police in July.

In July, the beach was the scene of a horror roll over which left several in a critical condition, and left one young woman who had attended the beach to celebrate her 18th birthday with debilitating spinal injuries.

Queensland Police said this incident triggered the launch of police operation Victor Roscoesoma which so far charged 12 people with 17 offences.

“That includes a 20-year-old Tinana man, who was charged with three counts of dangerous operation, while driving an unregistered, uninsured, defective vehicle with cancelled plates,” a spokesperson said.