Police have cracked down on dangerous beach driving at a holiday hotspot by issuing more than 270 fines in eight days.
Sunshine Coast police, including highway patrol officers, were deployed to Noosa North Shore as part of Operation Sandstorm during the Easter and Labour Day long weekends, from April 18-21 and May 2-5.
They targeted speeding, drink and drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, driving while tired or distracted and defective vehicles.
Police conducted 2356 random breath tests with seven positive results, and 195 random drug tests which detected 10 people driving under the influence of drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine.
They 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.
One of the TINs was issued to a 38-year-old Mooloolaba man for allegedly driving a car while a child under four was unrestrained and on the lap of a passenger, costing the man $1209 and four demerit points.
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A 19-year-old Wynnum West man, a P-plater, was issued five TINs totalling $6400 and 16 demerit points after allegedly being detected driving a defective vehicle under the influence of alcohol while he and two passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
A 27-year-old Newtown man was issued four TINs costing $2200 and 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 too many motorists were flouting laws.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
