Police are investigating breaches at two licensed venues as part of a long weekend blitz

POLICE BLITZ: Officers have been kept busy, with checks at local pubs and clubs, and catching drivers who were speeding, drinking or drugged.

ON PATROL: Police have said they are very disappointed that people are continuing to endanger the community by speeding or getting behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs.

Police have been busy dealing with a range of incidents over the Queen’s Birthday weekend including a stabbing on Friday afternoon, a driver who was busted 50km/h over the speed limit, drunk drivers, and ensuring licensed premises complied with safe serving of alcohol.

On Monday, Richmond Police District Chief Inspector Susie Johnson said on top of investigations including the stabbing, officers had been involved in two key operations – one to check on the responsible serving of alcohol and the other on safe driving.

“Police are investigating one licensed premises in Lismore and one licensed premises outside Lismore for alleged breaches which have occurred this weekend,” she said.

“While the majority of patrons have been well behaved and responsible, we are also investigating an incident at a licensed premises in town.”

Speaking from Ballina Police Station, NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Acting Inspector Dave Carter, said some drivers had not got the message on responsible driving.

He said a was is now facing charges after being allegedly detected at driving 50km/h over the limit.

“A bloke was detected driving at 162km/h in a 110km/h zone at Wardell on the weekend,” he said.

“As well we have detected a number of drink drivers including a P-plater who should be at zero alcohol, which is very disappointing.”

Mr Carter said officers had been stationed across NSW for Operation Queen’s Birthday 2021 between 12am Friday, June 11, and midnight Monday, June 14.

“Numbers of visitors on our Northern Rivers roads this public holiday weekend are down as the June Queen’s Birthday long weekend is not celebrated in Queensland at the same time as in NSW,” he said.

“People are generally behaving well but as we come into the tail end of the long weekend police remind everyone to please slow down so everyone, residents and visitors can go home safely.

“And by everyone, I also include police, as our officers can get exposed to trauma and the fewer traumatic incidents they go to, the better it is for everyone.”

Mr Carter said officers will be enforcing the law with double demerit points again in force for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences.

He said police will also continue to target the Four Ds (Drink, Drug, Dangerous and Distracted driving) and are encouraging road users to report these offences.