Senior Police Officer Faces Charges for Alleged Drink Driving Offences in Northern NSW
A senior police officer has been charged after allegedly being caught drink driving twice in a single day while off-duty in northern New South Wales. The 53-year-old NSW Police sergeant, who is attached to a Northern Region command, was first stopped by authorities at approximately 11:30 AM on Saturday while driving northbound on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour.
He allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test and was subsequently taken to Woolgoolga Police Station for further analysis. At the station, a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.131, which is classified as mid-range drink driving under NSW law. In New South Wales, a reading between 0.08 and 0.149 falls into this category, indicating a significant level of alcohol impairment.
The sergeant was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice and charged with driving with a mid-range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA). As a result, his driver's licence was immediately suspended pending further legal proceedings.
Second Incident Occurs Hours Later with Higher Alcohol Reading
However, in a concerning turn of events, police allege that the same officer was again behind the wheel approximately nine hours later. This time, he was detained by members of the public about 20 minutes north of Woolgoolga after being observed driving dangerously around 9:15 PM.
He allegedly returned another positive roadside breath test before undergoing a breath analysis at Coffs Harbour Police Station. This analysis returned a reading of 0.191, which is classified as high-range drink driving in NSW. High-range drink driving carries severe penalties, including a maximum of 18 months' imprisonment, fines up to $3,300, and a mandatory licence disqualification.
Following this second incident, the officer was charged with high-range drink driving and driving while suspended. He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on April 7 to address both charges.
Employment Status Under Review Amidst Legal Proceedings
The NSW Police have confirmed that the officer's employment status is currently under review in light of these serious allegations. This case highlights the importance of road safety and accountability, even for those in positions of authority.
Authorities emphasise that drink driving poses significant risks to public safety, and such incidents are treated with utmost seriousness regardless of the individual's profession. The community is reminded to always drive responsibly and adhere to legal alcohol limits to prevent accidents and ensure safety on the roads.
