Police warned drivers, caravanners and four-wheel drivers that they’d be targeted.
And now, they’ve made good on their threats.
In just four days over some of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular tourist and camping beaches, a whopping 98 fines were handed down from Friday to Monday over the Easter Long Weekend.
That’s across tourist magnet sites like the Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach and Double Island Point.
The spots, immensely popular with 4WDs, campers and domestic travellers, are famous for attracting huge crowds each year as people flock to soak up the last of the warm weather before winter hits.
Last week, officers put out a notice that rule-breakers would be penalised amid the “influx of day trippers”. That reality has now set in for almost 100 people.
Officers carried out 766 random breath tests and 69 roadside drug tests, catching multiple drivers allegedly under the influence over the weekend.
Two motorists returned blood alcohol readings of 0.069 and 0.125, while six others allegedly tested positive to drugs.
Police are reminding the public that road rules apply everywhere, even on beaches. Source: QPWS
Police make good on threat, fine almost 100 drivers in four days
But it wasn’t just drink and drug driving raising eyebrows.
A 54-year-old man was fined $1,209 and slugged with four demerit points after allegedly reversing a caravan with a child sitting on his lap at Cooloola.
In another incident, a 53-year-old man was hauled before court after allegedly allowing a 15-year-old girl to drive unlicensed and without a seatbelt at Double Island Point.
A separate case saw a 48-year-old man accused of letting a 14-year-old boy get behind the wheel, allegedly clocked at 55km/h in a 40 zone along Teewah Beach.
Speeding was a major issue, with 32 fines issued — including one 17-year-old P-plater allegedly caught doing a staggering 94km/h in a 40 zone.
Police also defected 26 vehicles, with four deemed so unsafe they were ordered off the road immediately. A further 14 fines were issued for seatbelt offences, along with penalties for unsecured loads and careless driving.
And it’s far from over.
Blitz to continue into school holidays
Operation Sandstorm will ramp up again over the school holidays and Labour Day long weekend (on the first Monday in May in Queensland), with police warning drivers there’s nowhere to hide, even on beaches and remote tracks.
Northern Patrol Group Inspector John Mahony urged the public to submit dashcam or phone footage should they witness any unacceptable behaviour.
“If you observe poor driving behaviours and manage to record it, we would encourage you to report your observations to QPS Policelink or … upload any images or recordings online,” he said.
“It’s never too late to record, upload and report.”
To ensure compliance, authorities will also be monitoring hotspots from the skies.
“Police and QPWS Rangers will be deploying aerial assets to monitor the park and for enforcement purposes,” Inspector Mahony said.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie reminded beachgoers that it’s a privilege, not a right, to drive on the sand.
“We fully support any enforcement efforts that remind drivers about driving safely on the beach and respecting the pristine nature of the area,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to drive on Teewah Beach and the North Shore, and we want everyone to enjoy Noosa’s environment in a respectful, safe and responsible way.”
Police say hoon behaviour, including speeding and intoxicated driving, continues despite warnings Source: QPS
This issue flares every year across the region, with the beaches’ popularity often leading to congestion on narrow beach tracks, unsafe driving, and conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians and wildlife.
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