New operation targeting heavy vehicles finds most truck drivers are doing the right thing
November 1, 2012
Most truck drivers pulled over during a new multi-agency operation targeting heavy vehicles travelling along the Castlereagh Highway were compliant.
New South Wales Police and the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) were out in force on October 30 and 31 breath testing drivers, conducting licence and work diary checks and carrying out vehicle inspections for defects.
While police were targeting heavy vehicles, drivers of light vehicles were also stopped and subjected to random breath tests and licence checks.
More than 460 random breath tests were conducted, and NSW Police says six charges were laid against drivers including three for criminal offences.
More than 180 vehicles were stopped, with the RMS issuing 10 defect notices, and police issuing four traffic infringement notices.
Officers yesterday stopped a southbound prime mover, bearing South Australia registration, travelling near Walgett. Police nabbed him for alleged discrepancies in his work diary entries from earlier this week.
The RMS claims the diary recorded he was in a rest period but Safe-T-Cam records showed the vehicle being driven along the New England Highway at Bendemeer.
The 49-year-old truck driver from Somerton Park will face court charged with falsifying his work diary.
A 66-year-old man from Queensland was found to have a suspended licence. He will be issued with a court attendance notice for driving while suspended.
“No matter where motorists travel in the state, NSW Police and RMS will be working together to identify criminal and risk-taking behaviour and to ensure compliance by truck drivers and operators for the benefit of road safety,” Superintendent Stuart Smith says.
However, it was a motorist who was busted for allegedly possessing two bags containing white powder, a bag of cannabis and 11 syringes. Police also allege his car smelt strongly of cannabis.
The 38-year-old man was charged with three counts of possessing a prohibited drug and will appear in Walgett Local Court on December 11.
