National police operation nets drug offenders near Cobar
Wednesday May 26, 2010
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Among the officers carrying out drug and alcohol testing for Operation Austrans west of Cobar last Thursday and Friday were Cobar Police officer Senior Constable Greg
Martin and new Nymagee police officer Senior Constable Dave Portelli.
Cobar Police have caught out a number of drivers using drugs on our roads as part of a nationwide operation.
A specially equipped drug testing bus was in town last week as local police carried out a blitz on all traffic heading west of Cobar last Thursday and Friday.
Police set up the bus at the RTA rest stop on the Barrier Highway as part of Operation Austrans 2010, a nationwide effort targeting heavy vehicle speeding, fatigue and compliance as well as drug and alcohol offences.
A total of 578 random breath tests were carried out over the two days, as well as 145 drug tests.
Four of the drugs tests returned positive results, with the samples taken being forwarded onto Sydney for further analysis.
Two heavy vehicle drivers and the drivers of two cars had their licences “grounded” for 24 hours after the positive drug tests, with charges pending.
One driver was detected with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.150 at 11.40am on Friday.
He was charged with driving with a high range prescribed concentration of alcohol and his licence was suspended on the spot.
Police also charged one driver with driving with a low range prescribed concentration of alcohol.
Among the infringement notices handed out were two for possession of fireworks, one charge for possession of a prohibited drug, and 10 traffic infringements.
Police also made two traffic charges and handed out two defect notices, plus six traffic cautions.
Operation Austrans 2010 has involved police at both state and federal levels establishing heavy vehicle checking stations across the country during May conducting random breath tests; checking log books; checking for
dangerous goods; and cracking down on speeding.
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