A Coffs Harbour police officer has been charged with drink driving, and may lose his job, after being caught twice driving under the influence in the one day.
About 11.30am on 21 February 2026, officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle travelling northbound on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour. The driver, a 53-year-old male sergeant attached to Northern Region Command, underwent a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result.
He was arrested and taken to Woolgoolga Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.131, more than double the legal limit.
He was charged with drive with mid-range PCA and his driver’s licence was suspended.
Later that evening, about 9.15pm, officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District responded to reports that members of the public had detained a motorist on Red Rock Road at Red Rock after he was allegedly seen driving dangerously.
Police will allege the motorist was the same off-duty officer from the earlier Pacific Highway incident, who apparently had continued drinking after his earlier arrest. He was arrested again and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where a breath analysis allegedly returned an even higher reading of 0.191.
He was charged with high-range PCA and drive motor vehicle whilst licence suspended. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday 7 April 2026 in relation to both matters.
The officer’s employment status is under review.
Also on Coffs Harbour roads over the weekend, a man has been charged following a fatal crash at Toormina, after a sedan collided with an unoccupied parked truck.
The front passenger, an 18-year-old man, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.
The driver, a 27-year-old man, was treated for minor injuries before being taken to hospital for mandatory testing and further assessment under police guard.
A crime scene was established and specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit commenced inquiries.
Upon release from hospital, the 27-year-old was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and related offences. He was refused bail to appear before the Bail Division Court on Sunday 22 February 2026.
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