Whitsunday Police increase patrols for drink and drug drivers

Police are maintaining a strong presence on the region’s roads, cracking down on drug and alcohol impaired drivers.

Police performing roadside testing across the Whitsundays found 19 drivers had either drugs or alcohol in their system. File photo

Whitsunday Police are warning anyone contemplating getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs, there is a high chance they will be caught.

Officer in Charge Sergeant Nathan Blain said police had ramped up testing rates to “make sure the road’s safe for everybody”, resulting in charges for four drink drivers and five drug drivers in the past week.

DRINK DRIVERS

A 65-year-old Airlie Beach woman was intercepted near the Shute Harbour Road and Jones Road intersection at Cannonvale at 5.55pm on May 15.

She allegedly had a blood-alcohol content of 0.09 per cent and will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on June 7.

A 54-year-old Airlie Beach man was intercepted on Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach, at 3.30am on May 15.

He allegedly had a 0.198 BAC and will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on June 14.

A 52-year-old Bowen woman was intercepted on Shute Harbour Road, Mandalay, at 5.30pm on May 16.

She had a 0.073 BAC and will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on June 7.

A 22-year-old Cannonvale woman was intercepted on Beach Road, Cannonvale, at 2.30am on May 20.

She had a 0.161 BAC and will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on June 7.

DRUG DRIVERS

A 44-year-old Sarina man tested positive in a roadside drug test at Airlie Beach at 5.15pm on May 15. He will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on July 12.

A 28-year-old Jubilee Pocket man tested positive for a prescribed substance on Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach, at 5.15pm on May 15. He will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on June 28.

A 38-year-old Cairns man allegedly tested positive for a prescribed substance on Phoenix Court, Jubilee Pocket, at 7.10pm on May 18. He will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on July 26.

A 27-year-old Airlie Beach man allegedly tested positive for a prescribed substance on Shute Harbour Road, Cannonvale, at 5.10pm on May 20. He will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court at a later date.

A 23-year-old Brendale woman allegedly tested positive for a prescribed substance on Main Street, Airlie Beach, at 12.02am on May 21. She was also allegedly driving while disqualified. She will appear at Proserpine Magistrates Court on August 9.

BOWEN

Meanwhile, in Bowen, police detected nine positive roadside drug tests in the seven days from May 11 to 18, three of them on the Bruce Highway and the remainder throughout the streets of town.

They intercepted one alleged low range drink-driver on Powell Street on May 14. The 18-year-old Bowen man will appear in court on June 8.

Acting Officer in Charge Sergeant Ryan Gregory said police were conducting increased patrols on the Bruce Highway and Peter Delemothe Road in an effort to reduce the road toll.

He said police had issued 38 traffic infringements throughout the week.