Police, Main Roads and SPER in Bruce Hwy blitz

Main Roads, police and SPER officers joined forces for a multi-pronged blitz on drivers south of Gympie that included 950 roadside breath tests and resulted in several drink drivers being busted.

Multi-unit police operations in Federal near Gympie.

A police and SPER blitz on the Bruce Highway south of Gympie on March 31, resulted in 950 roadside breath tests.

The heavy vehicle enforcement bay on the highway at Federal was used to stop heavy vehicles and cars to “ensure compliance with road rules and regulations,” a police press release stated.

A number of heavy vehicles were detected over length and non-compliant with work diary requirements,” Gympie Highway Patrol Officer Vaughan Carman said.

“Police were overall happy with the compliance of drivers leading into the school holiday period and thank them for assisting police to make the road network safer,” Senior Constable Carman said.

About 950 breath tests were conducted on light vehicle drivers.

SPER officers joined the operation to invite drivers to finalise their debts or organise payment plans.

“Expect to see them at future operations,” Snr Const Carman said.

Seventeen drivers in debt were approached, resulting in $2259.60 in payments collected upfront and the value of $28,354.88 in instalment plans entered.

Several traffic infringement notices were issues during the operation.

The operation was undertaken on Friday, March 31 during the start of the Easter holidays 2023.

Police conducted 950 roadside breath tests during the operation but only four drink drivers were detected.

Additionally, 19 drug tests were taken, all showing a negative result.

Police issued 15 traffic infringement notices to light vehicle drivers for a variety of offences including failing to comply with interlock conditions, unregistered vehicles, uninsured vehicles, loading offences, drivers consuming liquor while driving, holding a recently expired licence and registration plate and defective vehicle offences.

In regard to heavy vehicle enforcement, 21 notices were issued for offences including over-length vehicle breaches, exceeding hours, work diary offences, defective vehicles, over-length light vehicles, over-length heavy vehicle dimensions, heavy vehicles failing to comply with conditions and load prohibitions.

Police units who participated included Gympie Highway Patrol, Bundaberg Highway Patrol, Maryborough Highway Patrol, Maryborough Tactical Crime, State Penalties Enforcement Registry’s Enforcement Team (SPER) and Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads Compliance Unit.