The model behaviour of Dubbo drivers at the Christmas weekend was tainted when a 41-year-old man blew four times the legal limit while behind the wheel.
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On the fourth day of operation Safe Arrival officers from Orana Local Area Command (LAC) stopped the driver of a Holden Commodore on the Mitchell Highway in Narromine at 9.30am yesterday.
The local man told police he had no licence and further checks revealed the car was unregistered.
After an initial breath test the driver was taken to Narromine police station for further analysis which revealed a blood alcohol level of .210.
The man was charged with with high-range drink-driving and other traffic offences.
Inspector Alan Cusack said officers were still finding people driving while “uninsured, unregistered and under the influence of alcohol,” despite a high-profile campaign reminding drivers that police would be “out in force over the holiday weekends”.
In what was described as a “massive waste of resources” emergency service crews from Dubbo were called out to what is now a suspected hoax accident on the Newell Highway about 20 kilometres north of Dubbo.
About 1.30am yesterday the NSW Ambulance Service received an emergency call claiming a truck had rolled over on highway. The caller said the the driver was trapped and in need of medical treatment.
Two police vehicles, two rescue squad crews and Dubbo paramedics responded to the call but were unable to locate the alleged accident.
Police are now making inquiries in relation to the caller who is believed to be in Dubbo.
Inspector Alan Cusack said police were frustrated with the wasted use of resources “which could be used in many other matters in the command”.
In an unrelated matter a 43-year-old Dubbo man was driving along East Street, Dubbo on Christmas morning when his vehicle caught fire.
The driver pulled over and used a hose to extinguish the flames.
The man said the area under his seat and the engine compartment of his Toyota van caught fire after the vehicle backfired.
Dubbo firefighters attended the scene and said a loosened fuel hose was the likely cause. No injuries were sustained in the incident.
Inspector Cusack said the area had been relatively calm over the Christmas weekend with only minor incidences occurring.
Yesterday about 1.30am police were called to Narromine where three naked men were seen running down the main street.
The local men attempted to run from officers but were stopped and ordered to dress.
Operation Safe Arrival is in place until January 7 and police will also be monitoring anti-social behaviour in and around pubs and clubs in the lead up to New Year’s Eve.
Inspector Cusack said extra police had been rostered on and offenders “will be dealt with promptly to ensure the New Year begins smoothly”.
