ULMARRA: Highway Patrol targeting horn blowers

A NUMBER of heavy vehicle drivers were identified and issued traffic infringement notices for a number of offences, including causing undue noise in the village

Sergeant Jarrod French of Coffs Clarence Highway patrol directs drivers in for Random Breath Testing at Ulmarra. Picture: Adam Hourigan Photography

A HIGHWAY and Traffic Patrol operation targeting horn blowers through the village of Ulmarra has yielded results, with several offenders identified and action taken against them.

Coffs/Clarence Highway Patrol supervisor Sergeant Jarrod French said the operation was predominately conducted through the night during the weekdays in September, and action will be taken against those found to be causing undue noise.

"The number of horn blowers and the complaints from the Ulmarra community had been growing until the point in August when we met with the community to see what exactly we could do to get information and evidence about what was happening," Sgt French said.

"As a result we found out basically what we needed to do to run the operation and target offenders, and on the first night it yielded our first result.

"We maintained our relationship with the community and information has been coming through to us quite often, which is good because it means we can take action for offences straight away, and that's by working with the community and listening to their needs. It means we can target the complaints and get the results we have."

Sgt French said since the operation began in September the number of offences for causing undue noise, as well as the number of community complaints, has been reduced.

"The operation is still ongoing, but earlier this year it was basically getting out of control, so we're happy with what we've done so far to reduce the number of complaints," Sgt French said.

"It wasn't just truck drivers too, we also took action against unlicenced and suspended drivers as well as unregistered vehicles and people speeding and driving while under the influence, so we were able to make the roads safer as a whole."

From the Highway Patrol operation several horn blowers were identified and action taken against them including:

A male heavy vehicle driver was stopped in a B-Double at 3am on September 3 for exceeding the speed limit and causing undue noise (horn blowing), and was issued traffic infringement notices for both offences and the company notified of poor driver behaviour.

A transport company heavy vehicle was identified on September 5 for horn blowing. The company was notified through chain of responsibility and action was taken against the driver.

A transport company heavy vehicle identified on September 22 at 2.20am for excessive horn blowing was identified through chain of responsibility and action for these offences is still pending but will most likely involve a court appearance.

Other results:

• RBT: 117
• Heavy vehicles stopped: 14
• Heavy vehicle charges: 2
• Heavy vehicle speeding: 2
• Heavy vehicle other infringements: 2
• Unlicenced/Suspended drivers: 3
• Unregistered vehicle: 3
• Speeding: 8
• Other offences/defects: 9

Originally published as ULMARRA: Highway Patrol targeting horn blowers