Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol and Tactical Crime Squad officers have conducted more than 950 random breath tests (RBT) and issued more than 100 traffic infringement notices (TIN) during a deployment to patrol Noosa North Shore and Double Island Point this Easter to enforce safe driving on the beach as part of Operation Sandstorm and Operation Whiskey Easter.
Over the four-day period, from Friday March 29 until Monday April 1, police issued 109 TINs, including one for public nuisance and three for drive without due care.
Officers conducted 968 RBTs, finding one person with a blood alcohol reading of 0.130, and of the 53 random drug tests completed, two returned positive.
One notice to appear (NTA) was issued for possessing dangerous drugs, and two NTAs for drug diversions.
In addition, three NTAs were issued for unlicensed driving, and six Defective Vehicle Rectification Notices (DVRN) were issued, with two vehicles ordered off the road due to illegal modifications.
Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol officer in charge Senior Sergeant, Shane Panoho, said the road rules still apply when driving on the beach.
“If you wouldn’t drive on the Bruce Highway with a passenger sitting out on the door window, don’t do it while driving on the beach either,” he said.
“We still have a couple weeks left of the school holidays so I urge people to keep these consequences in mind when planning to drive on the beach.
“We will continue with increased patrols across the roads and beaches.”