Star Casino to Coffs trip ended with high range reading

Police were concerned when they clocked a hatchback at 154kph on the Pacific Highway near Coffs Harbour. Things escalated further when they spoke with the driver.

A man who allegedly told police he drank an unknown amount of beer during a 12-hour stint at The Star Casino on the Gold Coast ran out of luck when he was flagged down by police at Coffs Harbour.

David Luke Forbes, 37, of Bronte in Sydney, is before the courts on a high range drink driving charge.

Police were monitoring vehicle speeds on the Pacific Highway at Dirty Creek when they clocked a silver hatchback travelling at 154kph in a 110kph zone at about 8am on April 24.

Taking up a position behind the hatchback, police stopped the vehicle near Cassons Creek Bridge.

According to the police facts, Forbes said: “Oh. I didn’t realise I was going that fast.”

Police allege the driver’s speech was slow and slurred, and they conducted a roadside breath test which returned a positive result of 0.185.

Forbes was taken to Woolgoolga Police Station and issued with a licence suspension notice for a high range reading, and a penalty notice for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30kph.

According to the police facts, Forbes stated he had been at The Star Casino from 2pm the previous day through to 2am on April 24, where he had consumed an unknown amount of beer.

Forbes said he had not slept and was planning to take a break at Port Macquarie, police allege.

The incident occurred during a statewide special operation for the Anzac Day long weekend, and it was highlighted in a public notice to media.

Forbes was due to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday, but magistrate Rodgers adjourned the matter to Waverley Local Court on June 7.