A 44-year-old man has been charged with high-range drink driving after a member of the public confiscated his keys and called police to the Pacific Highway at Port Stephens on Australia Day.
Police were told the man had driven into a median strip and hit a small tree before pulling over on Six Mile Creek Road at Eagleton around 6.50am, where a passing driver stopped and took the man's car keys away.
Port Stephens-Hunter police arrived a short time later and subjected the man to a breath test which allegedly returned a positive result.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.186.
The man was issued with a court attendance notice to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday, February 22.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty, said it's encouraging to see motorists concerned for the safety of others by reporting dangerous driving to police.
"As part of our Four Ds campaign, we've been urging all road users to report drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving, when safe to do so," Mr Hegarty said.
"In this instance, the actions of the motorist have helped keep the community safe during the Operation Australia Day 2021 period."
NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command conducted "Operation Australia 2021" road safety campaign over the Australia Day long weekend, during which motorists faced double demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, motorcycle helmet and seatbelt offences.
Police conducted more than 96,000 breath tests, with more than 300 drivers charged with drink driving.
In addition to the drink-driving charges, 386 people returned positive results for drug-driving. More than 9200 people were fined for other traffic offences, including not wearing a seatbelt and speeding.
"While the poor behaviour of some drivers is disappointing, we're overall encouraged by the behaviour of the vast majority of drivers over operation," Mr Hegarty said.
"Sadly, three people lost their lives on NSW roads over this period. We continue to work hard in improving road safety for all road users across our state."
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