1647 RBTs conducted in Whitsundays before Christmas

Twelve drink drivers were nabbed during an early Christmas police traffic operation over the weekend.

Police from the State Traffic Task Force and Roadside Drug Testing Unit were involved in Traffic Operation Paddington, which focussed on drink/drug driving, speed, seatbelts and fatigue, for three days last week.

Police covered the Whitsunday and Proserpine area, with Bowen, Proserpine and Mackay Traffic Branch, Mackay Tactical Crime Squad, Whitsunday and Proserpine Police also taking part.

The operation was also run in conjunction with the Christmas road safety campaign.

From 132 roadside drug tests, five offenders were caught while 12 drink drivers were stopped out of 1647 RBTs.

Seven people were found to be driving while unlicensed, 61 speeding tickets were issued and 16 people were caught not wearing a seatbelt.

On Friday 10.40pm a 29-year-old male from Western Australia was intercepted on Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale and BAC of .092.

The male was charged with drink driving and his licence was suspended for 24 hours.

On Saturday, at 7.52am the following morning the same male was intercepted on Shute Harbour road and gave a breath alcohol reading of .114 per cent and charged with drink driving and unlicensed driving. Then at 10.30am the male again drove along Shute Harbour Road. Police from the State Traffic Task Force have impounded the driver’s vehicle and charged him with unlicensed driving.

Whitsunday Emergency Services join forces for Damian Leeding

 A group of around 40 people consisting of police officers, firies, SES personnel and members of the Whitsunday community, joined forces on Saturday morning to raise money for the family of Gold Coast detective Damian Leeding – one step at a time. The intrepid fund-raisers walked 26kms from Crystalbrook Road to the Peter Faust Dam, raising $2,165 along the way.

 Constable Steve Ringelstein, from the Proserpine station where the plan was originally hatched, said the community response had far exceeded expectations.

 “I’m amazed at the generosity of the public – the donations that have come in and the number of people who have given up their morning to come and do this.

 “This was very personal to us as police officers but as you can see from the support of the community it’s obviously touched a lot of people,” Constable Ringelstein said.

 Guardian journalist Heidi Walton was among those who completed the walk to “get behind the Proserpine Police in their efforts to raise money for a good cause”.

 “I’m worn out but feeling good about helping those who help us,” she said at the finish line.

 Public donations to the Damian Leeding Remembrance fund can still be made through the Westpac Bank.

Whitsunday Police to raise money for family of Damian Leeding

Finally, there’s a legal way to get the boys in blue to leave town for the day.

Pay them.

Proserpine and Whitsunday police are inviting all emergency service personnel to join them on a fundraising walk on July 2 to raise money for their colleague who was killed during a robbery in Brisbane.

Proserpine Constable Steve Ringelstein said all money raised for the 25 km walk to Proserpine Dam would go to the family of Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding.

Walkers are to meet at the Whitsunday Junior Sports Field carpark on Crystalbrook Road at 6am on Saturday July 2 with $10 in their pocket for a donation.

“Also we’d like people from the community to meet us at the dam for a barbecue lunch where donations can be made. Also if you can’t make it on the day, call into the station and donate if you can afford a few dollars.”

Email Ringelstein.Steven@police.qld.gov.au or phone the station before Wednesday, June 26 so the boys can ensure there’s enough food for everyone.