A motorcycle rider who was disqualified until 2024 was caught after going through a still active railway level crossing outside of Dubbo, while in sight of police.
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About 4.30pm on Saturday, officers attached to Orana Highway Patrol saw the bike negotiate the crossing just after a train had passed and while the lights were still flashing.
They stopped the motorcycle a short distance later and spoke to the rider, who produced a learner's licence but police recognised him as a disqualified driver.
The man refused to confirm his identification and was arrested by police and taken to Dubbo Police Station.
His fingerprints were obtained and the man was confirmed as that of a driver disqualified until 2024, who was on a 12-month good behaviour bond for driving while disqualified.
The man was charged with drive whilst disqualified (second offence), possess driver licence by false statement and disobey warning device at level crossing and was granted conditional bail to appear before Dubbo Local Court on March 4.
It was just one of a number of incidents police encountered during the first two days of Operation Safe Return.
In another, police stopped a sedan for a mobile random breath test on the Golden highway near Cassilis on Friday night, only to discover the driver was a 15-year-old girl.
Officers attached to Mudgee Highway Patrol reported the girl, from Mannering Park, for the offence unlicensed driver never held and she will appear in court on a date to be determined.
The car's owner, a 19-year-old man (a P2 licence holder), and owner of the vehicle was issued a traffic infringement notices for permit unlicensed person to drive.
Despite the incidents police are generally satisfied with the behaviour of motorists. At the end of day two, 107,460 breath tests had been carried out and 103 people charged with drink driving, compared to 94,898 tests and 185 offences at the same time last year.
There have been 1960 people caught speeding, an increase on last year.
With 17 deaths on the road in the lead-up to Operation Safe Arrival and three since Friday, police are urging motorists to slow down and ensure they arrive at their destination safely.