TWO MEN will front court in Tamworth next month after allegedly swapping seats while travelling at 100km per hour during a police pursuit, as patrols were out in force at the long weekend.
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Peel Highway Patrol manager Inspector Wixx told the Leader police tried to pull over a 25-year-old man on the New England Highway near Bendemeer about 10:30am on Friday, but he allegedly failed to stop.
Police gave chase and allege the driver and his 44-year-old passenger swapped seats while travelling about 100km per hour, before the car was pulled over.
Both men were charged with three allegations each, including driving in a manner dangerous; police pursuit; and driving while licence is disqualified or cancelled.
Inspector Wixx said it was positive to see there were no fatalities in the New England and Oxley districts to Monday night, but it wasn't all good news.
"We are still seeing people making poor choices when they are out on our roads," she said.
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Police statistics between Friday and Sunday alone show seven fines were issued for people not wearing seatbelts; four people were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel; and 150 speeding tickets were issued.
A dozen drink driving and 15 drug driving offences were recorded; 2700 breath tests were taken; and there were 127 other traffic violations.
Inspector Wixx said Highway Patrol officers were also checking for COVID-19 breaches.
In another incident, a woman was ordered to return home to the Hunter region after racking up more than $5500 in fines for alleged COVID-19 breaches.
Inspector Wixx said the woman was caught travelling at 130km per hour on the New England Highway near Deepwater.
She had been turned away at the Queensland border and had already been issued a fine of more than $4000.
"She had no reasonable excuse to have been driving in that area," Inspector Wixx said.
She was fined a further $1000 for breaching health orders, as well as another $494 for exceeding the speed limit by more than 20km per hour.
Police directed her to return home immediately.
Inspector Wixx urged locals to hold out and wait for rules to ease.
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Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
