Police have issued more than 120 traffic infringement notices during a four-day crackdown on beach drivers in the region.
As part of Operation Spring Break, officers from the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol were tasked to patrol Rainbow Beach, Teewah Beach and surrounds to target the Fatal Five.
From September 19 to 22, police issued 126 traffic infringement notices (TINs) and conducted 207 breath tests and 39 drug tests.
Of those tests, two people returned a positive result for drink driving and one person tested positive to drug driving.
On September 20, police intercepted a vehicle on the beach in Cooloola after the driver and passengers were allegedly observed driving without seatbelts.
The driver, a 22-year-old Warwick man, was issued with five TINs for driver fail to wear a seatbelt, drive defective vehicle, non-P1 type licence holder display red P plates, and two counts of drive with unrestrained passenger 16 years old or older – a combined total of $4052 in fines.
The driver also tested positive to a drug test and was issued with a 24-hour licence suspension notice and charged with drug driving.
The man is expected to appear in Noosa Magistrates Court on November 18.
On September 20 in Cooloola, a 37-year-old Rochedale South man was charged with drink driving and had his licence suspended after recording a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.063 per cent.
On September 21 in Teewah, a 28-year-old Spring Hill man was charged with drink driving and had his licence suspended after recording a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.141 per cent.
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Highway patrol officers will continue to be deployed to the Great Sandy National Park throughout the remainder of the school holidays.
Sunshine Coast Chief Inspector Michael Miley said the beach was not the place to relax if driving a vehicle.
“It’s concerning to see drivers detected for speeding and drink or drug driving on the sand so close to campers and beach goers,” he said.
“Please drive with extreme caution and be aware of your environment.
“Expect to be intercepted by police if you’re doing the wrong thing and putting the life of yourself, your passengers or the community at risk.”
The Fatal Five behaviours are speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue and distraction.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton thanked police and reiterated that the number of infringements underscored long-time community concerns regarding behaviours occurring on Teewah Beach and the broader Cooloola Recreational Area.
“Key Noosa stakeholders, residents and visitors firmly believe the current under-management of visitation to the Teewah and Noosa North Shore beaches has and is damaging the reputation of this unique destination, whilst impacting residents, our environment and the visitor experience,” she said.
“The control measures in place are clearly not enough, with responses from government indicating no further protections will be put in place and no changes will be made until the final Cooloola Recreation Area Management Plan (CRAMP) is finalised.
“Ultimately, the stretch of beach where these infringements were issued is a beach, where people are sunbaking, children are playing and crossing to the ocean, and turtle hatchlings are making their way during nesting season. With speeds of 110km/h recorded, it is clear that much more must be done on a regular basis.”
Ms Bolton said no timeline had been provided on when the CRAMP would be completed.
