Operation Fume reveals we still have a problem with drink driving and drug detections while driving

South Coast Police District report: Police have targeted speeding motorists and those under the influence of drugs and alcohol during a high-visibility traffic enforcement operation on the state’s South Coast at the weekend.

Between Thursday (17 June 2021) and yesterday (Monday 21 June 2021), officers attached to Far South Traffic and Highway Patrol – assisted by The Hume Southern Traffic Group, Nowra Proactive Crime Team and Batemans Bay Proactive Crime Team – conducted Operation Fume between Nowra and Eden.

During the operation, police conducted 366 random breath tests and 255 random drug tests, with 5 people caught drink-driving and 35 motorists with positive preliminary drug detections, which will undergo further analysis.

Police issued 66 infringements and a further 11 for speeding.

Of note, a 29-year-old motorcyclist had his license immediately suspended and vehicle sanctions imposed, after he was allegedly caught travelling 131km/h in an 80km/h zone on Bendalong Road, Bendalong, just before 8.30am on Thursday (17 June 2021).

Just after 11.15am the same day, a 45-year-old Sanctuary Point woman – banned from driving until 2024 – was stopped on Sussex Inlet Road, Sussex Inlet, for random testing.

She was unable to provide a license and allegedly provided false details to police. A drug test allegedly returned a positive detection.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a small quantity of methylamphetamine.

Charges are expected to be laid.

About 10am Saturday (19 June 2021), police detected an unregistered vehicle travelling along the Princes Highway, Mogo. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, and when it failed to, a pursuit was initiated. It was terminated a short time later for safety reasons, before the 32-year-old driver was arrested at Batemans Bay Motel.

Checks revealed he was disqualified from driving until 2034. He was charged with police pursuit – Skye’s Law, drive whilst disqualified, drive unregistered motor vehicle, and drive uninsured motor vehicle.

He appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court yesterday (Monday 21 June 2021), where he was formally refused bail to reappear in the same court on Monday 26 July 2021.

Operation Fume is a road policing operation targeting alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.

Similar operations are expected to continue in the future.