Operation Whiskey Legion arrests 186 people at Wide Bay beaches

Police blitzes at Rainbow Beach, Teewah Beach, Double Island Point, Coonarr and Kinkuna Beach caught multiple hoons, drink drivers and defective vehicles.

Police officers checking on the beach traffic at Teewah earlier this year. Police saturated beaches across the Wide Bay Burnett over the weekend, arresting 186 people as part of the ongoing Operation Whiskey Legion.

Police saturated beaches across the Wide Bay Burnett over the weekend, arresting 186 people as part of the ongoing Operation Whiskey Legion.

The multilevel operation has featured a surge of police across the region from August 1-9, to take strong, targeted action to reduce crime “to ensure the community is safe and feels safe”.

Across the weekend, August 3-4, Highway Patrol units led patrols of popular beaches in the area to target dangerous driving.

Police patrolled Rainbow Beach, Teewah Beach, Double Island Point, Coonarr and Kinkuna Beach and intercepted several drivers for hooning behaviour, drink driving and defective vehicles.

During patrols police intercepted a Toyota Hilux after campers at Coonarr reported it had been observed driving dangerously.

Police noted major defects included the rear of the vehicle being held to the main cab by ratchet straps, a modified exhaust, and bald tyres.

Police officers checking on the beach traffic at Teewah earlier this year. Police saturated beaches across the Wide Bay Burnett over the weekend, arresting 186 people as part of the ongoing Operation Whiskey Legion.

A 17-year-old Urangan man was issued three traffic infringement notices worth $805 – drive/park or permit drive/park defective vehicle that does not comply with vehicle standards, perform non-compliant modification (modify vehicle exhaust to reduce or likely to reduce effectiveness), and drive/park or permit drive/park defective vehicle (vehicle or a vehicle component is unsafe).

During random breath tests at Kinkuna Beach, police recorded a 17-year-old Avenell Heights boy driving with a 0.06 at BAS and a positive drug test.

He was issued with a TIN for drink drive over general limit but not over middle range, a 24-hour driver’s licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a Notice to Appear.

Popular hooning spot and the scene of recent tragedies, Kinkuna Beach was targeted by police as part of Operation Whiskey Legion.

He also received $580 in TINs for P2 licence holder fail to display clearly legible green P plate(s) visible from 20m and drive/park or permit drive/park defective vehicle (vehicle or a vehicle component is unsafe)

The Water Police were also out in force over the weekend, conducting more than 255 combined vehicle/vessel checks on the boat ramps and waterways in and around Tin Can Bay, Hervey Bay and Burnett Heads.

During those checks, police intercepted two drug drivers and issued a caution for unlicensed driving of a boat.

As Operation Whiskey Legion continues today, 186 people have been arrested on 704 charges.

Police have also executed 16 search warrants, conducted 2847 random breath tests and 182 random drug tests, issued 439 TINs, 43 hotspot patrols, engaged with 97 victims and referred 20 people onto support services.

Originally published as Operation Whiskey Legion arrests 186 people at Wide Bay beaches