Darling Downs Operation Fines 217 Drivers

Queensland Police fined more than 200 motorists during a seven-day road safety operation across the Darling Downs, recording offences including speeding, drink driving and drug driving.

Operation Nitrox ran from May 12 to 19 as part of the Queensland Police Service’s statewide Operation Interpose. Led by the Toowoomba Highway Patrol, the operation included roadside breath and drug testing, as well as overt and covert patrols across the South Burnett, Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley areas.

Police conducted 2,244 random breath tests and 83 random drug tests. Six people were detected driving under the influence of alcohol and 28 were detected allegedly driving under the influence of drugs. Officers issued 217 traffic infringement notices, including 119 for speeding.

In one incident, police allege a 17-year-old Kensington Grove driver was travelling at 125km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Warrego Highway at Crowley Vale on May 18. The driver was fined $1,919, received eight demerit points and had his licence suspended for six months. Police also allege he was using a mobile phone, resulting in an additional $1,251 fine.