Charges laid during Operation Fume targeting alcohol and drug driving - Illawarra
Monday, 31 March 2025 02:29:31 PM
Four people have been charged following a high visibility road operation in the Illawarra.
Operation Fume ran over 12 hours from Friday 28 March 2025 to Saturday 29 March 2025, targeting alcohol and drug driving across the Wollongong and Lake Illawarra Police Districts.
The high-visibility operation involved officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
The operation utilised mobile and stationary random breath and drug testing.
In total, 159 breath tests were conducted, and one person charged with a drink-driving offence and 150 roadside drug tests were conducted with nine positive results detected, including five for cannabis and four for methamphetamine. The licences of all drivers returning a positive roadside drug test were suspended for 24 hours, with further action against those awaiting secondary results.
Three people were charged for traffic offences including one suspended driver, one charged of unlicensed driving and a mid-range drink driving offence. One criminal charge was laid for a breach of an apprehended violence order. 16 traffic infringement notices were issued, including exceeding the speed limit, use of mobile phone while driving and registration offences.
Incidents of note,
About 10:30pm on Friday 28 March 2025, Illawarra Highway Patrol were conducting random testing at Springhill Road, Springhill. Officers pulled over a car driven by a 24-year-old male, with a female passenger. Following inquiries, police found the man had allegedly breached an apprehended violence order. He was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic). He was granted conditional bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
About 1.18am on Saturday 29 March 2025, Illawarra Highway Patrol were conducting random testing on Carroll Road, East Corrimal. Officers pulled over a car driven by a 17-year-old male with a P1 licence. The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test and allegedly returned a positive a reading of 0.09. He was issued a court attendance notice for mid-range PCA for Tuesday 29 April 2025.
About 6.10PM on Friday 28 March 2025 officers attached to Wollongong Highway Patrol were conducting random testing at the intersection of Blackman Parade and Central Road, Unanderra. Officers pulled over a car driven by a 35-year-old male driver. He was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result. The driver was subjected to a roadside drug test which allegedly returned a positive reading for methamphetamine. The P1 licence was suspended for 24 hours and he was issued with a traffic infringement notice for drive motor vehicle with illicit drug present in oral fluid etc.