Tasmania Police conducted a joint operation with the Transport Safety and Investigation Unit and Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Compliance and Enforcement Officers on the Midlands Highway on Monday 3 April. The operation was held over a four hour period, just south of Melton Mowbray.

Senior Sergeant Mark Williams said, “the operation was a great opportunity to work with other departments, as well as utilise the latest detection equipment available, enabling transport officers to precisely weigh trailers, caravans, camper trailers and firewood loads roadside”.

“A number of checks were conducted during this period, including; random breath tests, roadside oral fluid tests, vehicle safety tests for roadworthiness, firearms licence checks, drivers licence checks, vehicle weighted load checks and wildlife and firewood load/permit compliance checks”.

Offences detected during this included:

• 4 x Positive oral fluid tests for illicit drugs detected in the drivers system
• 19 vehicle defect notices
• Drug Diversion issued for possession of cannabis
• 3 x unlicensed / uninsured drivers detected
• 1 x arrest for outstanding warrants
• 1 x arrest for breach of court bail conditions, relating to driving

Further offences that were detected included firearms and ammunition storage, unregistered trailers and wildlife offences.

“Over 500 random breath tests were conducted during the operation and although no drink drivers were detected, it is disappointing to see that people still risk driving after consuming illicit drugs, despite repeated warnings not to do so”.

“If you’ve been drinking or consumed illicit drugs, don’t drive. It’s really that simple”.