Oxley police blitz: 19 drivers charged with drink driving during Operation Chrome in Gunnedah, Tamworth and Narrabri

Almost a third of the 19 people intercepted over the limit on Friday and Saturday night were from Gunnedah.

During the high-visibility blitz, police in the town charged six drivers with PCA including one with high-range and three mid-range.

Dozens of drivers were also nabbed for offences like speeding, mobiles and other non-compliance issues.

Highway Patrol Sergeant Troy Woods told the Namoi Valley Independent the operation targeted alcohol, speed and fatigue-related offences.

“It is a concern that drivers are still being caught driving with alcohol in their system, and not getting the message,” he said.

“Especially this close in the lead-up to Christmas. 

“It is more than likely that operations like this will be ongoing.”

Operation Chrome saw highway patrol and general duties police from Gunnedah and Tamworth hit the streets across the Oxley Police District, patrolling main and back roads after dark.

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Officers conducted just shy of 600 random breath tests, with 12 people detected drink driving on Friday night and another seven on Saturday night.

In Gunnedah, two drivers were also caught driving while suspended and more than 50 others were fined for other offences across the region.

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Oxley Acting Inspector Jacob Cantwell said the numbers of drink drivers caught in two nights was alarming.

“Police are very concerned at the number of PCAs in the area,” he said.

“These are people detected driving above the legal limit and putting themselves and other motorists at risk.”

Across the Oxley area, police issued 64 infringements, including 16 tickets for speeding, and seven other motorists were given 24-hour flash bans from driving after testing positive to prohibited drugs during roadside tests.