Police issued more than 11,800 traffic infringement notices across NSW during the King’s Birthday long weekend, with motorists on the Mid North Coast among those targeted in the statewide road safety operation.
Operation King’s Birthday 2026 ran from 12.01am on Friday, 5 June, until 11.59pm on Monday, 8 June, with Traffic and Highway Patrol officers joined by general duties and specialist police across the state.
The operation coincided with a double demerit period targeting speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt and helmet offences.
Across NSW, police conducted more than 248,000 breath tests and 8,200 roadside drug tests, detecting 303 drink-driving offences and 788 drug-driving offences.
Police also issued 11,806 traffic infringement notices, including 3,890 for speeding, 455 for mobile phone use and 211 restraint offences.
Two people died on NSW roads during the long weekend, while police responded to 279 major crashes.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said most motorists had made safe decisions over the holiday period.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and over the long weekend we saw the majority of motorists make safe, sensible choices that kept themselves and others safe,” Catley said.
“The strong police presence across the road network made a real difference. That visibility helped reinforce safe behaviour and played an important role in making sure people got home safely.
“While the operation has now concluded, the message remains the same – road safety should be front of mind for all drivers every day, and police will continue to enforce the laws to keep people safe.”
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner David Driver said officers maintained a strong enforcement presence throughout the operation.
“The vast majority of motorists did the right thing, but too many still took unnecessary risks on our roads,” Driver said.
“This operation was about visibility, deterrence and ensuring drivers understood the consequences of speeding, drink/drug driving and distraction.
“Every driver stopped for speeding and tested for drugs and alcohol contributes to safer roads.”
Northern Region records highest number of offences
The Mid North Coast falls within NSW Police’s Northern Region, which recorded the highest number of speed infringements across the state during the operation.
Northern Region statistics included:
- 1,013 speed infringements
- 1,787 other traffic infringements
- 40,462 breath tests
- 92 PCA (drink-driving) charges
- 2,004 roadside drug tests
- 215 positive drug tests
- 28 restraint offences
- 52 mobile phone offences
One of the most serious incidents occurred in the Northern Region when police allegedly detected a 17-year-old motorcycle rider travelling at more than 160km/h in a 60km/h zone at Lismore Heights on Friday morning.
Police will allege the rider failed to stop, leading to a pursuit before crashing into a roundabout in Lismore. The teenager was arrested and later issued with a Court Attendance Notice. He is due to appear before a children’s court on 13 July.
Police said alcohol and drug tests returned negative results.
Authorities are reminding Mid North Coast motorists that although the long weekend operation has ended, enforcement activities will continue year-round.
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