DISBELIEF: Acting Sergeant Wes Bush says police are astonished by the number of driving offences committed during the holiday period. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0103speed1
AN Orange man was clocked at 130km/h in a 50km/h zone on Ploughmans Lane last week but the incident was just one in a series of outrageous driving behaviour over the Christmas and New Year period.
The 22-year-old man lost his licence on the spot on December 23 for six months, and copped a $2296 fine.
Under hoon law changes effective from last July police were able to confiscate his registration plates for three months.
Another driver was clocked at 132 km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Escort Way on December 27, but this 20-year-old was a learner driver.
The Sydney man surrendered his licence to police for six months and was also slapped with a $2296 fine.
However, it wasn’t just speeding drivers that raised the ire of Canobolas Traffic and Highway Patrol Command during Operation Safe Arrival, which started December 24. Police caught two people with high-range drink-driving, one mid range, two low range and one special range.
Special range could include P-platers, heavy vehicle drivers or someone whose licence is suspended.
New Year’s Day drinks were too tempting for two people in the region who will find themselves in court later this month.
A 57-year-old Woodstock man blew a blood alcohol reading of five times the legal limit when he was breath tested in Woodstock.
A 42-year-old Orange woman was more than three times over the limit when police pulled her over on Tuesday.
The woman was not pulled over because of the way she was driving. Rather, her car’s exhaust was too loud.
In 11 days of Operation Safe Arrival police breath tested over 4100 drivers in the Orange, Cowra area.
Sergeant Mark Hevers said he was disappointed people were still not getting the don’t drink and drive message.
“One drink-driver is one too many,” he said.
More than 146 people in the area had been booked for speeding in less than two weeks.
Sergeant Hevers was appalled at the number.
“Considering it’s only the 11th day of the operation it’s a huge amount,” he said.
“All we can do is keep trying to do our job.”
Police booked 144 people for other infringements, including not displaying P-plates, using a mobile phone or car defects.
They also booked 13 people for not wearing seatbelts.