DOUBLE demerit points were no deterrent for many hundreds of motorists who were caught speeding across the region during the Easter long weekend police blitz. Hefty fines were issued to 717 motorists for speeding with some drivers losing their licence in Western NSW during Operation Tortoise. The blitz commenced on Thursday and ran across the Easter long weekend before winding up at midnight on Monday with double demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences. READ MORE: Another five-day stint of double demerit points to commence on April 24 There were two fatalities on Western NSW roads during the operation, they occurred in separate crashes on the outskirts of Tamworth and Inverell on Thursday night and Saturday morning. There were 38 crashes in the region during the five days which left 27 people injured. Western Region Traffic Tactician Inspector Ben Macfarlane said random breath tests and drink driving motorists were a big focus for officers. READ MORE: What it's really like at the scene of a serious car crash, emergency services say During the operation, police conducted 26,131 breath tests and 23 motorists were caught over the limit. Officers issued 747 infringements notices for a range of issues, including 62 for seatbelt and helmet offences. During the blitz on Saturday a 23-year-old male driver was caught with substances believed to be methylamphetamine and resealable bags during a police search following an RBT in Cootamundra. While on Thursday, a 30-year-old Lithgow man was charged with two counts of having goods in custody suspected of being stolen, possess a prohibited drug, and being an unlicensed driver following an RBT. Inspector Macfarlane said despite the high number of speeding motorists, overall police were happy with driver behaviour. He said officers had a proactive approach to the number of RBTs that were conducted and the statistics reflected that. READ ALSO: Man in critical condition following Mitchell Highway crash "Highway patrol officers were out there doing what they were supposed to be doing," he said. With two of the state's three fatalities during the operation occurring on Western NSW roads, Inspector Macfarlane urged motorists to take care on the roads. "There's only a few degrees of separation between a minor prang and a fatality," he said. In the lead-up to Anzac Day, police will again be out in force on the region's roads with double demerit points in place from 12.01am on April 24 to 11.59pm on April 28. During this time double demerit points will apply for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle-helmet offences.
DOUBLE demerit points were no deterrent for many hundreds of motorists who were caught speeding across the region during the Easter long weekend police blitz.
Hefty fines were issued to 717 motorists for speeding with some drivers losing their licence in Western NSW during Operation Tortoise.
The blitz commenced on Thursday and ran across the Easter long weekend before winding up at midnight on Monday with double demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences.
There were 38 crashes in the region during the five days which left 27 people injured.
Western Region Traffic Tactician Inspector Ben Macfarlane said random breath tests and drink driving motorists were a big focus for officers.
During the operation, police conducted 26,131 breath tests and 23 motorists were caught over the limit.
Officers issued 747 infringements notices for a range of issues, including 62 for seatbelt and helmet offences.
During the blitz on Saturday a 23-year-old male driver was caught with substances believed to be methylamphetamine and resealaRead More – Source
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