Charges laid in Operation Sandstorm across Sunshine and Cooloola Coast

Drug and drink driving charges as well as defective vehicle fines have been laid by Sunshine Coast police during a targeted blitz at several tourist hot spots. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Alleged drink driving, drug possession and illegal behaviour continue to plague Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach and the Cooloola Coast as police make several arrests on the sands.

Since its inception in 2020, Operation Sandstorm run by Sunshine Coast police has incorporated regular beachside patrols and enforcement at popular tourist spots, with 119 traffic infringement notices issued in their latest activity.

Over the weekend of September 16-19 2022, officers conducted more than a thousand roadside breath tests.

A driver being breath tested during Operation Sandstorm on the school holidays. Picture: QPS

Of those breath tests police charged a 22-year-old McKenzie man for drink driving who they allege blew a blood-alcohol content of 0.123 per cent at Teewah Beach on September 17, 2022.

A driver showing police his car door that doesn’t have a handle on the exterior during Operation Sandstorm. Picture: QPS

He will face Noosa Magistrates Court on September 27, 2022.

Officers at Cooloola also arrested a 20-year-old Mermaid Beach man who police allege returned a positive roadside drug test and was found with drugs in his vehicle.

He was charged with possessing drugs and drug driving and will appear in Noosa Magistrates Court on October 25, 2022.

In footage of beach intercepts released by Queensland Police, a 23-year-old man was issued a $1,078 fine for not wearing a seatbelt on September 18, 2022 while a 28-year-old man was fined $431 for speeding.

The final clip of the video shows a 30-year-old man being issued with $115 and $143 fines respectively on September 18, 2022 for using a vehicle without number plates attached and having a defective vehicle.