Police who stopped a 55-year-old man for a roadside breath test in Wollongong’s main street discovered he had been banned from driving until 2035.
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Police pulled the man over on Crown St just before 10.30pm on Sunday.
He has been charged with mid-range PCA and disqualified driving.
NSW police have cited the incident as just one example of irresponsible driver behaviour from Day 10 of Operation Safe Arrival.
Meantime, the state’s road toll has risen to 10 after the death of a man on the North Coast this morning.
Three cars collided on the Pacific Highway about 1.5km north of the Iluka turn-off just before 10am.
Police from Coffs/Clarence and Richmond Local Area Commands, NSW Ambulance Paramedics and SES crews responded quickly to the incident.
The driver of a northbound Ford Laser, a 23-year-old man, died at the scene.
An elderly couple, who were travelling south in their silver-coloured Ford sedan, were airlifted to hospital. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The occupants of the third vehicle, a black Toyota Camry sedan, were unharmed.
On Sunday, police booked 797 speeding motorists and issued 940 infringement notices for other traffic offences.
They conducted 33,861 roadside breath tests, resulting in 37 motorists being charged with drink-driving.
Superintendent Bob Ryan from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command has warned New Year’s Eve revellers not to drink and drive.
“If you’re planning to enjoy a drink or two to celebrate New Year’s Eve then leave your car keys at home and take public transport or a taxi,” Superintendent Ryan said.
“Drinking and driving is not only dangerous it is a criminal offence and no one wants to start 2013 with a criminal record or, even worse, the thought they’ve injured or killed someone in a traffic crash.”
Other examples of irresponsible driver behaviour cited by police:
- About 1.15am yesterday, an 18-year-old male ‘P1’ licence holder returned a breath analysis reading 0.156 after being stopped by police at an RBT station on Spit Road at Mosman, on Sydney’s lower north shore. The teenager had two passengers with him at the time. He was charged with high-range drink-driving and breaching passenger conditions. His licence was suspended on the spot.
- A 29-year-old woman was stopped by police after being spotted driving erratically on the Hume Highway, Campbelltown, just before 4pm yesterday. She later returned a breath analysis reading of 0.163 and was charged with high-range drink-driving and had her licence suspended.
- About 8pm yesterday, a 26-year-old man was arrested by police after leading police on a pursuit in Sydney’s west. He’d earlier been spotted by officers doing burnouts in Newington Road, Newington. The motorist has been charged with aggravated burnout and other offences.
- About midday yesterday, a 73-year-old Broken Hill woman was charged after being caught behind the wheel of a car – she has never held a driver’s licence.
Double demerit points remain in effect for speeding, seatbelt and helmet offences until 11.59pm on Tuesday.
Operation Safe Arrival concludes at 11.59pm on Friday.
