Police target motorists driving under the influence - Operation RAID

Monday, 12 May 2025 09:08:04 AM

NSW Police have increased their presence on streets across the state, focusing on drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs following concerning road trauma trends last month.

Traffic & Highway Patrol officers commenced Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) at 12.01am on Thursday (8 May 2025) and concluded at 11.59pm on Saturday (10 May 2025).

Police set up hundreds of stationary and mobile random breath and drug testing sites and spoke to motorists about their fatigue levels across the state.

Drink driving, drug driving and fatigue are 3 major contributors to the state’s annual road toll.

In April 2025, 39 people lost their lives in 36 crashes. Four are believed to be alcohol related and seven are believed to be drug related. This is compared to 37 deaths in April 2024.

There have been 131 deaths so far in 2025, which is 19 more than this time last year.

During the high-volume, high-visibility operation, police conducted more than 109,796 breath tests, with 132 drink driving offences detected.

Police conducted 6,841 drug tests with 461 people returning positive tests.

While the operation focused on finding drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the operation saw police also detect 1,373 speed-related offences, 286 mobile phone usage, and 84 seatbelt/helmet-related offences.

Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, said Operation RAID was one of several statewide initiatives run throughout the year to reduce road trauma and serious crashes.

“We have seen 19 more people lose their lives on our roads this year compared to 2024. That is unacceptable and that is 131 lives too many,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.

“We run these operations to promote road safety, educate drivers, encourage compliance with road rules and reduce loss of life.

“Whilst we saw the majority of motorists comply with the law during the operation, it was disappointing to see some drivers completely disregard the road rules.”

“It is concerning to see any offence occur on our roads, but particularly drink and drug driving combined with high-speed.

“We will continue to run road operations to keep the community safe. Those drivers who break the road rules risk being detected by police, losing their licence, and facing the consequences of their actions in court.”

Incidents of note:

• About 10pm on Thursday 8 May 2025, police from Camden Highway Patrol were conducting stationary random breath testing on Camden Valley Way, Gregory Hills, and a driver of a truck was directed to stop. The driver allegedly failed to stop, and police followed the car before it stopped on Gregory Hills Drive. The driver, a 34-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Narellan Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.206. He was issued with a field court attendance notice for fail to stop for random breath testing and drive with high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol. His licence was suspended, and he will attend Picton Local Court on Thursday 19 June 2025.

• About 10.40pm on Thursday 8 May 2025, police from Northern Beaches Highway Patrol were called to Mona Vale Road, Ingleside, after a driver allegedly left the road and collided with a rock wall. The driver, a 34-year-old man, allegedly attempted to enter another car before police arrested him. The man was breath tested and allegedly returned a positive result. He also allegedly returned a positive indication to a roadside drug test. The man was taken to a police station where he underwent a breath analysis, allegedly returning a 0.143 result. He also allegedly returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine in a secondary drug test. The man was charged with drive with mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol. His licence was suspended, and he will appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday 4 June 2025.

• About 7.30am on Friday 9 May 2025, police from New England Highway Patrol were patrolling New England Highway, Deepwater, when they stopped a driver due to the manner of driving. The 22-year-old male P-plate driver allegedly returned a positive result to a roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Glen Innes Police Station. He underwent a breath analysis and allegedly returned a reading on 0.128. He also allegedly tested positive to cannabis and methamphetamine during a secondary drug test. The man was charged with drive with mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol, and drive with mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol and illicit drug. His licence was suspended, and he will appear at Glen Inness Local Court on Monday 15 July 2025.

• About 9.20am on Friday 9 May 2025, police from Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol stopped a car on Shellharbour Road, Shell Cove. As police approached the car, the driver, a 41-year-old man, allegedly accelerated away. When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. The driver allegedly reached speeds of 165km/h in a 100km/h zone in Dunmore. A short time later, the pursuit was terminated for safety reasons. Shortly before 10am, Wollongong Highway Patrol officers located the vehicle on Panorama Drive, Farmborough Heights and the driver stopped. He was arrested and allegedly returned a positive drug test result. He was taken to Oak Flats Police Station and charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h and two counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Kiama Local Court on Monday 2 June 2025.

• About 10.15pm on Friday 9 May 2025, police attached to Newcastle Highway Patrol stopped the driver of a vehicle on Chatham Road, Broadmeadow. Checks on his licence revealed he was disqualified from driving until 2059. The man allegedly returned a positive result to an oral fluid test. Police also allegedly found 96.26g of cannabis, 14.21g of methamphetamine, $1455 cash and a foldable knife inside the car. The driver, a 44-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he allegedly returned a positive result to methamphetamine and cannabis after a secondary oral fluid test. He was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, supply prohibited drug more than indictable less than commercial, possess prohibited drug, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime and custody of knife in public place. He appeared in Parramatta Local Court where he was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 May 2025.

• About 1.40am on Saturday 10 May 2025, police attached to Hunter Valley Highway Patrol were patrolling on Lang Street, Kurri Kurri, when they attempted to stop a vehicle. When it allegedly failed to do so, a pursuit was initiated. A short time later, the car collided with a gutter and stopped. The driver, a 20-year-old man, was arrested. He allegedly returned a positive roadside reading. Police searched the car and allegedly located 320 capsules of MDMA, $1060 in cash and other substances in bags. Police also allegedly located large knives and hatchets. He was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with recklessly deal with proceeds of crime, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, possess or use a prohibited weapon with permit, possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug more than indictable quality and less than commercial quantity, novice driver drive with novice range prescribed concentration of alcohol and leaner not accompanied by driver. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 10 May 2025 where he was granted conditional bail to appear at Kurri Kurri Local Court on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

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