newy.com.au – A driver allegedly caught travelling at 102km/h in a 50km/h zone was among those targeted during a police traffic operation across Maitland.
Police issued 26 traffic infringement notices and laid three charges during Operation Token on Friday, August 28, which focused on road safety, anti-social driving and riding, and other traffic offences.
Officers were patrolling Denton Park Drive at Rutherford about 11.55am when they detected a vehicle travelling at about twice the speed limit.
The driver, a 35-year-old woman, allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test for cocaine and methamphetamine. A secondary sample was sent for further analysis and inquiries are continuing.
She was issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h and had her licence suspended for six months.
About 1.05pm, officers saw a motorcycle with an unreadable number plate on the New England Highway at Rutherford. They stopped the bike a short time later on Howarth Street and spoke to its 46-year-old rider.
Police allege the man was disqualified from driving and the motorcycle had been reported stolen from Telarah.
He was charged with driving during a disqualification period and having goods suspected of being stolen in his custody. The motorcycle was seized and taken to Maitland Police Station, with its owner notified.
The man is due to appear in Maitland Local Court on September 30.
A 61-year-old woman was also stopped for random testing at East Maitland about 3.15pm. Police checks allegedly showed she was disqualified from driving.
She was issued a court attendance notice for driving while disqualified and is due to appear in Maitland Local Court on October 14.
Police said two positive drug detections were recorded during the operation, with inquiries continuing into both.
Operation Token involved officers from the Port Stephens/Manning and Newcastle-Hunter highway patrol commands, the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District and PolAir. Police said similar operations would be conducted in the future.
