Arabic version: شرطة تصدر ما يقرب من 100 غرامة خلال حملة القيادة على الشاطئ في عيد الفصح

A police operation targeting beach driving north of the Sunshine Coast over the Easter holidays has resulted in nearly 100 fines, including charges against adults for allowing unlicensed teens to drive. Police from the Sunshine Coast and Gympie highway patrols issued 98 fines and charged nine people during the long weekend at Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach, and Double Island Point.

According to ABC News, police conducted 766 random breath tests and 69 random drug tests between April 2 and April 5. During the operation, two drivers returned positive blood alcohol concentration levels of 0.069 and 0.125, while six drivers tested positive for drugs.

Acting Sergeant Bruce Diachoff reported that a 17-year-old P-plater was allegedly caught driving 94 kilometres an hour through a 40 zone at Cooloola. “On Teewah Beach, there’s a 40 kilometre an hour zone through the campsites … that’s where that person was detected speeding … which is an automatic high-speed suspension on their licence,” he noted.

Additionally, two teenagers were found driving unlicensed on the beach. A 53-year-old man was fined for permitting unlicensed driving after a 15-year-old girl was allegedly found driving without a seatbelt, while a 48-year-old man was penalized for permitting unlicensed driving after a 14-year-old boy was detected travelling 55 kilometres an hour in a 40 zone.

Police also issued fines for various other offenses, including a $1,209 fine to a 54-year-old man for reversing a caravan with a child on his lap. The operation continues as police maintain their presence on the beaches throughout the school holiday period.