Police charge 109 drivers between Ballina and Tweed during weekend RBT blitz

Two alleged police pursuits kicked off during an RBT blitz over the weekend that saw more than 100 drivers charged between Tweed and Ballina in the state’s north. Here’s what happened.

Police have conducted a drink and drug driving blitz in the state’s north.

More than 100 drivers have been charged after 11,130 random breath tests were conducted over the weekend between Tweed and Ballina on the NSW North Coast.

Operation Fume began on June 23, targeting drug and drink driving offences on the Pacific Highway between the QLD border and Ballina.

In total, 70 people were charged with drink-driving offences, while 39 drivers returned positive drug tests.

There were a further 32 traffic charges, six unrelated charges, and 372 infringements issued.

Additionally, two police chases allegedly kicked off during the operation over the weekend.

A total of 109 drivers were charged over the weekend in the state’s far north after a major drink and drug driving blitz.

On the first night of the operation, a 51-year-old man was arrested following an alleged pursuit after police allege he tried to avoid an RBT.

About 9.45pm on Friday, police attempted to stop a car on the Pacific Highway for a random breath test.

The vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, and a pursuit was initiated – coming to an end when road spikes were deployed on Colliers Creek Rd, Tanglewood.

He was charged with failing to comply with a request or signal to stop his vehicle, a police pursuit, and driving while disqualified.

The man appeared before Lismore Local Court on June 24, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court on July 10.

Police highlighted three incidents from the weekend-long blitz.

In a separate incident, a 57-year-old man was arrested after a vehicle stop on the Pacific Highway at Ballina shortly after midnight on June 24.

Following inquiries, police allegedly located an amount of cannabis and methamphetamine in the vehicle.

The man was charged with four counts of prohibited drug supply, prohibited drug possession, and having custody of a knife in public place.

He was refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on June 24, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Ballina Local Court on July 13.

In a third incident, at about 5pm on Saturday police tried to stop a 29-year-old man at Lennox Head.

He allegedly fled the scene and a chase started before being cut short due to safety concerns.

He was later picked up by police at Ballina Rd, Alstonville and was charged with a police pursuit and prohibited drug possession.

The man appeared before Byron Bay Local Court on June 26, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Queanbeyan Local Court on July 18.