A statewide crackdown on road safety last weekend did not stop a Hunter driver from allegedly breaking the law twice in one night - on the second occasion being caught allegedly travelling more than 70km/h faster than the speed limit.
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The 38-year-old Woodberry man was first stopped for a random breath test on Wirraway Street at Raymond Terrace just after 10pm on Saturday, where he returned a positive reading.
Despite the p-plater's licence being immediately suspended, the man was allegedly recorded by police travelling 151km/h along the Pacific Highway at Tomago less than two hours later.
He was breath-tested a second time and returned another positive reading.
Police arrested the man, who will face court on September 16.
The case came midway through Operation Chrome - a safety campaign targeting speeding, mobile phone use, drink-driving and motorists affected by drugs on the state's roads.
There were 56 drink-driving and drug-driving offences detected in the Northern Region - which includes the Hunter Region and surrounds - between Friday and Sunday nights.
Police conducted 7292 breath tests and 73 drug tests on drivers across the Northern Region, resulting in 56 charges in total.
Northern Region traffic technician Acting Inspector Justin Cornes said the operation was about getting motorists to think about their behaviour, particularly on rural roads.
"We will not think twice to stop a vehicle if we think the driver's behaviour places everyone in and around the vehicle at risk," Acting Inspector Cornes said.
"It's deeply concerning that despite all the warnings, drivers continue to put their lives and the lives of others in danger by either drinking and driving, driving under the influence of prohibited drugs, using a mobile phone behind the wheel or not wearing a seatbelt."
Across the state, police conducted 18,436 random breath tests, 445 random drug tests and laid 251 charges overall.
Of that figure, 112 motorists were charged with drink-driving and 35 for drug-driving.
A further 1201 Traffic Infringement Notices were issued, including 30 for not wearing a seatbelt.
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