Police have charged a number of people with drink and drug
driving offences after a large-scale high visibility traffic operation on the
Gold Coast last night (Friday).
Police Minister Jack Dempsey said the aim of the police
blitz on the M1 was to catch everybody from drink drivers to unlicensed
motorists.
“More than 800 roadside breath tests were conducted, with
three people returning a positive road side reading,” Mr Dempsey said.
“What this shows is the majority of people are doing the
right thing.
“However, three drunk drivers is still three too many and it
takes just one accident on the M1 to affect the lives of many.”
There were also 67 roadside drug tests conducted returning
five positive readings.
In addition police issued 11 traffic infringement notices
for defective vehicles, eight for unlicensed or disqualified driving, nine
vehicle registration offences and six speeding offences.
Mr Dempsey also said Kilo Gettysburg was just one of many
planned large-scale traffic operations and they can happen anywhere, anytime
from the Cape to the Tweed Border.
State Traffic Support Branch Superintendent Andy Morrow said
that while they were generally pleased with the operation, the number of
positive drug tests is worrying.
“The percentage of drug drivers we picked up last night is
concerning," Superintendent Andy Morrow said.
"We need the public to understand that this kind of
risky, life threatening behaviour is not accepted, and police can be anywhere,
at any time.”
Specialist officers from the State Traffic Task Force,
Roadside Drug Testing Unit, Breath Analysis State Support, Forensic Crash Unit,
regional traffic officers, general duties officers, Criminal Investigation
Branch, Tactical Crime Squad, and the Dog Squad along with and Transport
Inspectors from Transport and Main Roads set up a number of static sites on the
M1, and on the Gold Coast Highway at Coombabah from 8pm to 11pm.
[ENDS] 4 August 2012
Information: Danny Donald 0439 719 116
