A Cootamundra man has been listed among the most notable traffic offenders in the state over the long weekend, following a blood alcohol reading more than four times the legal limit.
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At about 6.50am on Monday, October 5, a 33-year-old man from Cootamundra was stopped driving south along the Olympic Highway near Wallendbeen after allegedly swerving from side to side within the southbound lane.
A short time later, officers stopped the grey Toyota Corolla for a breath test.
The driver provided a positive sample and was taken to Cootamundra Police Station where he returned an alleged reading of 0.204.
He was charged with high-range drink driving and will appear before Cootamundra Local Court next month.
His licence was also suspended.
Across the long weekend, police across the state, including the Cootamundra Local Area Command, took part in Operation Slowdown, targetting motorists doing the wrong thing.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, reported this week that across the state, during the operation, officers conducted 219,152 breath tests resulting in 262 drivers charged with drink-driving.
The number of drivers breath-tested was up from 203,645 tested in 2014 when 431 people were charged.
“While we were pleased to see reductions in drink-driving, many of those detected had readings two, three and four times the legal limit, putting themselves and other road users at great risk,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
He said of concern to officers were the 5358 drivers detected speeding, up from 4696 in 2014.
While we were pleased to see reductions in drink-driving, many of those detected had readings two, three and four times the legal limit
- Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander John Hartley
“The increase in speeding detections in light of the current road toll is a concern for us heading into the busy Christmas period,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
Another incident of note listed by the NSW Police Force during Operation Slowdown involved a 23-year-old man speeding by more than 60 km/h on the Hume Highway, near Goulburn.
Just after 7am on Monday, a white Nissan Skyline was detected allegedly travelling at 173 km/h in the 110 km/h zone.
The driver produced an international drivers licence and was issued with an infringement notice for exceed speed over 45 km/h.
His visiting driver privileges were suspended for six months and being the registered owner of the Nissan, his registration plates were seized for three months.
The Cootamundra Herald contacted local police asking about drink driving/speeding infringements in the Cootamundra Local Area Command. We will publish this information when it is forthcoming from local officers.
