BY JARROD MELMETH
Lake Macquarie Police conducted a dangerous driving blitz on Monday which resulted in 11 arrests.
Officers undertook Operation Amrap between 7am and 5pm targeting drink and drug driving offences, along with compliance with the current health orders.
During the operation 80 vehicles were stopped, 74 drivers undertook a random breath test, with a 43-year-old man charged with mid-range drink driving at Wangi Oval in Arcadia Vale.
Police will allege he returned a positive test result roadside, before he was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station where he recorded an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.089.
The operation also saw 37 drivers undergoing random drug testing, with seven drivers returning a positive result. All drivers were arrested with secondary analysis being sent for further testing.
Two disqualified drivers were charged with driving will disqualified and one person was issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching the public health order.
Lake Macquarie Police District Duty Officer, Chief Inspector Craig Reid says it’s concerning to see the number of drivers getting behind the wheel under the influence.
“Seven drivers out of 37 recorded a positive roadside result – that is a worrying number of motorists who proceed to put not only their own lives at risk, but the lives and safety of those on the road around them.
“Those secondary results will be forensically tested and if they return a positive result, then those drivers will be charged and put before the courts.
“Lake Macquarie Police will be continuing to target drivers who think they can get away with drink or drug driving – you will see us in numbers on the main arterial roads, the back routes,” Ch Insp Reid said.