Drug and drink drivers caught by police at Noosa North Shore

More than 270 people have been fined, including a man caught driving with an unrestrained preschooler in his car, during a police crackdown on dangerous driving north of Noosa.

More than 270 people have been fined, including a man driving with an unsecured young child, after a spate of dangerous driving incidents over the long weekends.

Police were deployed to Noosa North Shore over the Easter and Labour Day long weekends to target speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelt offences, driving while tired or distracted, and defective vehicles.

From April 18 to 21 and May 2 to 5, police performed 2,356 random breath tests and 195 random drug tests.

Officers recorded seven drink drivers and 10 driving under the influence of drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Police issued 272 traffic infringement notices (TIN) for a range of offences including defective vehicles, failing to wear a seatbelt, failing to wear a motorbike helmet and using a mobile phone while driving.

A 38-year-old Mooloolaba man was fined $1,209 and given four demerit points for allegedly driving a car while a child, aged under four, was unrestrained on the lap of a passenger.

A 19-year-old male P Plater from Wynnum West was issued five TINs equalling $6400 and given 16 demerit points for allegedly driving a defective vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and while he and two passengers were not wearing seatbelts.

Operation Sandstorm

A 27 year old Newton man was fined $2200 and given eight demerit points for allegedly drinking alcohol while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke.

Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Acting Senior Sergeant Keith Preston said the operation was a success but also disheartening.

“A successful deployment to Noosa North Shore for us is one without crashes or deaths – that’s what we count as a good result,” Acting Senior Sergeant Preston said.

“It’s disappointing to see so many people continue to have such disregard for the safety of themselves, their passengers and the other road and beach users by driving in a dangerous manner and in dangerous cars.

“It’s a privilege to drive on the beach and we need to treat it as we would driving on the road.

“No doubt our presence on the beach, enforcement action and educational engagements corrected the behaviours of many people and provided a safer environment for all people, families and children using the beach.”

Originally published as Drug and drink drivers caught by police at Noosa North Shore