Latest news with #OperationSandstorm
7NEWS
08-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Roadies, unbelted kids and smoky cars: Police crack down on reckless beach drivers
Sandstorm isn't just a great song by Darude, it's also the name of a police operation on Queensland's Sunshine Coast that targeted reckless driving at Noosa North Shore and saw almost 300 fines issued. Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers issued 272 traffic infringement notices (TINs) across an eight-day period including the Easter and Labour Day long weekends, with everybody from drug-users to parents with unrestrained children caught up in the operation. A 19-year-old Wynnum West P-plater copped five TINs for a total of $6400 in fines and 16 demerit points, after he was allegedly found to be driving a defective vehicle under the influence of alcohol and – like his two passengers – not wearing a seatbelt. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. A 27-year-old Newtown man was also stung for multiple infringements, receiving eight demerit points and $2200 in fines for drinking alcohol while driving 'in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke' and not wearing a seatbelt. A 38-year-old Mooloolaba man was fined for driving his vehicle while a child under the age of four was sitting unrestrained on a passenger's lap, costing him $1209 and four demerit points. Of the 2356 random breath tests conducted as part of Operation Sandstorm, seven yielded positive results. Of the 195 random drug tests conducted, 10 people were found to be driving under the influence of drugs such as cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine. 'A successful deployment to Noosa North Shore for us is one without crashes or deaths – that's what we count as a good result,' Acting Senior Sergeant Keith Preston said. 'It's disappointing to see so many people continue to have such disregard for the safety of themselves, their passengers and the other road and beach users by driving in a dangerous manner and in dangerous cars. 'It's a privilege to drive on the beach and we need to treat it as we would driving on the road. 'No doubt our presence on the beach, enforcement action and educational engagements corrected the behaviours of many people and provided a safer environment for all people, families and children using the beach.' While driving on the beach isn't allowed in Victoria, there are multiple beaches in Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia where vehicles have access. South Australia is tightening up its laws, though it says it has no intention to ban all vehicles on its beaches. A study by the University of the Sunshine Coast has found 4x4s are causing 'unequivocal serious and widespread damage' to coastal dune ecosystems, with its lead author saying there's no 'safe level' of beach driving. The Queensland Government has previously said it has no plan to ban driving on beaches in the Sunshine State, though the local council in Mackay has banned driving on the foreshore and beach on council-controlled land from Harbour Beach to East Point.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Perth Now
Roadies, unbelted kids and smoky cars: Police crack down on reckless beach drivers
Sandstorm isn't just a great song by Darude, it's also the name of a police operation on Queensland's Sunshine Coast that targeted reckless driving at Noosa North Shore and saw almost 300 fines issued. Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers issued 272 traffic infringement notices (TINs) across an eight-day period including the Easter and Labour Day long weekends, with everybody from drug-users to parents with unrestrained children caught up in the operation. A 19-year-old Wynnum West P-plater copped five TINs for a total of $6400 in fines and 16 demerit points, after he was allegedly found to be driving a defective vehicle under the influence of alcohol and – like his two passengers – not wearing a seatbelt. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert A 27-year-old Newtown man was also stung for multiple infringements, receiving eight demerit points and $2200 in fines for drinking alcohol while driving 'in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke' and not wearing a seatbelt. A 38-year-old Mooloolaba man was fined for driving his vehicle while a child under the age of four was sitting unrestrained on a passenger's lap, costing him $1209 and four demerit points. Of the 2356 random breath tests conducted as part of Operation Sandstorm, seven yielded positive results. Of the 195 random drug tests conducted, 10 people were found to be driving under the influence of drugs such as cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'A successful deployment to Noosa North Shore for us is one without crashes or deaths – that's what we count as a good result,' Acting Senior Sergeant Keith Preston said. 'It's disappointing to see so many people continue to have such disregard for the safety of themselves, their passengers and the other road and beach users by driving in a dangerous manner and in dangerous cars. 'It's a privilege to drive on the beach and we need to treat it as we would driving on the road. 'No doubt our presence on the beach, enforcement action and educational engagements corrected the behaviours of many people and provided a safer environment for all people, families and children using the beach.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert While driving on the beach isn't allowed in Victoria, there are multiple beaches in Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia where vehicles have access. South Australia is tightening up its laws, though it says it has no intention to ban all vehicles on its beaches. A study by the University of the Sunshine Coast has found 4x4s are causing 'unequivocal serious and widespread damage' to coastal dune ecosystems, with its lead author saying there's no 'safe level' of beach driving. The Queensland Government has previously said it has no plan to ban driving on beaches in the Sunshine State, though the local council in Mackay has banned driving on the foreshore and beach on council-controlled land from Harbour Beach to East Point. MORE: 4x4s causing 'widespread damage' to Australian beaches – studyMORE: A first timer's guide to beach driving
ABC News
07-05-2025
- ABC News
Police issue almost 300 fines on Noosa beaches over two long weekends
A man caught driving on a Queensland beach while his passenger held a young child without a seatbelt on their lap was among dozens of beach drivers issued with fines in a recent policing blitz. State police targeted beaches in the Noosa region over the Easter and Labour Day long weekends. As part of what was dubbed Operation Sandstorm, police issued 272 infringements for speeding, drink and drug driving and defective vehicles over an eight-day period. Police were particularly concerned that they had caught 26 drivers failing to wear a seatbelt. Queensland police intercepted more than 2,300 cars driving on beaches in the Noosa region over two recent long weekends. ( Supplied: Queensland Police ) In one instance, a 38-year-old Sunshine Coast man was fined $1,200 and given four demerit points for driving while a child under four years old was on his passenger's lap. Acting Senior Sergeant Keith Preston said it was disappointing to see. "The risk to people's lives as a result of that is terrible," he said. " In the event of a crash, the potential of death or of injuries to those occupants is huge. " Man caught drinking alcohol while driving A 19-year-old P-plater was hit with a $6,400 fine and 16 demerit points after allegedly being detected driving a defective vehicle. Police said he was not only under the influence of alcohol, but he and two passengers were not wearing seatbelts. A 27-year-old Newtown man was issued four infringements to the tune of $2,200 and eight demerit points for allegedly drinking alcohol while driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Acting Senior Sergeant Preston said the man had been driving in an area where young families were using the beach. Over the eight-day period, more than 2,300 random breath tests were conducted, which returned seven positive results. Keith Preston says it was disappointing to see so many drivers not wearing a seatbelt. ( ABC News: Lottie Twyford ) Police also conducted 195 random drug tests, catching 10 people driving under the influence of illicit drugs. Acting Senior Sergeant Preston said these numbers were too high. "Especially when you look at some of the circumstances … when you've got a young driver on P-plates over the legal limit for an open licence holder … [also] without a seatbelt on, and two passengers in the vehicle without seatbelts," he said. " The potential for that to go bad is just incredible. " Bad decisions on beach can be 'catastrophic' Police said they were concerned by the behaviour they saw on the beaches, particularly in cases where "young and inexperienced drivers" were behind the wheel. Acting Senior Sergeant Preston said drivers on beaches were subject to the same rules as on a gazetted road. "Unfortunately, when people do silly things on the beach, the outcome can be catastrophic," he said. "It's much easier to roll a vehicle, especially a four-wheel drive with a high centre of gravity." He said having unrestrained passengers intensified the risk of people being ejected from a car or being injured in a crash. Police said they would continue to target dangerous driving on the state's beaches. ABC Sunshine — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Wednesday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
7NEWS
07-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Police issues over 270 fines for drugs, drinking and dangerous driving at beach
A child allegedly riding on an adult's lap in a moving car is among the disturbing incidents uncovered by police during a major crackdown on dangerous beach driving. Queensland Police Service (QPS) has revealed the results of Operation Sandstorm on the Sunshine Coast, which targeted reckless and unsafe driving behaviour on Noosa North Shore over the Easter and Labour Day long weekends. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The four-wheel driving beach is legally considered a road under Queensland law, meaning standard road rules apply. Across the two long weekends, officers from Sunshine Coast Police and Highway Patrol conducted high-visibility patrols targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelt and helmet compliance, and unroadworthy vehicles. More than 270 fines, child on lap sparks outrage In total, police confirmed 2356 random breath tests (RBT), with seven drivers testing positive. A further 195 drug tests were carried out, uncovering 10 drivers under the influence of drugs, including cannabis, meth and cocaine. Officers issued a staggering 272 traffic infringement notices, including fines for unrestrained passengers, mobile phone use, defective vehicles, and failing to wear seatbelts or helmets. One of the most concerning incidents involved a 38-year-old Mooloolaba man, fined $1209 and four demerit points after allegedly driving a car with a child under four years old sitting unrestrained on a passenger's lap. Another offender, a 19-year-old P-plater from Wynnum West, Brisbane, racked up $6400 in fines and 16 demerit points for a raft of offences including driving a defective car under the influence of alcohol — with neither he nor his two passengers wearing seatbelts. A 27-year-old Newtown man was fined $2200 and hit with eight demerit points after allegedly drinking alcohol while driving and creating unnecessary smoke and noise. Police: Driving on the beach is a privilege Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Keith Preston said the blitz had achieved its primary goal of preventing serious crashes. 'A successful deployment to Noosa North Shore for us is one without crashes or deaths — that's what we count as a good result,' acting senior sergeant Preston said. But he admitted it was frustrating to see so many still ignoring basic safety laws. 'It's disappointing to see so many people continue to have such disregard for the safety of themselves, their passengers and other beach users,' he said. 'It's a privilege to drive on the beach, and we need to treat it as we would driving on the road.' Police said their enforcement presence, paired with on-the-spot education, likely changed many drivers' behaviour and improved safety for families and children visiting the beach.
