More than 800 drivers were breath-tested in the New England area at the weekend. Photo: Fairfax
MORE than 800 drivers were breath-tested in the New England area at the weekend as part of an annual statewide police traffic safety operation.
Senior police said, overall, drivers were well-behaved, after only two of those tested returned positive readings.
Operation Slowdown wound down at midnight today after a massive police presence patrolled the state's roads during the Labour Day holiday weekend.
Double demerit points were in force for all driving offences.
And despite copious warnings, some local motorists were still pulled up for drink-driving, speeding and other offences.
By Sunday night, preliminary figures revealed 58 drivers were caught speeding across the New England Local Area Command (LAC) alone.
They included a 61-year-old taxi driver who was reportedly found travelling at 72km/h in a 50km/h zone in Inverell on Sunday night.
He had two passengers in his car when he was pulled over by police at 9.45pm.
He joined the other 2914 drivers caught speeding and who received fines across the state an additional 50 speeding fines issued when compared to the same period last year.
New England police conducted 870 random breath tests, with just two drivers returning positive readings.
They included a 47-year-old Casino man who was charged with mid-range drink-driving after he tested positive at Tenterfield, about 10.50am on Sunday.
More than 110,000 tests were conducted across the state, with 124 drivers found to be drink-driving a decrease of 79 when compared to the same time last year.
About 33 drivers were charged with other traffic offences in the New England, while six more were charged with seatbelt offences.
A total 4460 other traffic fines were handed out across the state 570 fewer than last year.
While three fatal crashes occurred in the Sydney area killing three people there were none recorded across the New England and North West late yesterday afternoon.
New England LAC Leading Senior Constable Dave Hodson said the weather had been fine and drivers were considerably well behaved.
"Traffic has been good and accidents have been minimal, with no injuries," he said.
In the Oxley LAC Tamworth and surrounding district at least one man was found to be drink-driving, while another was caught driving unlicensed.
On Sunday about 8am, a 21-year-old Somerton man had a low-range prescribed concentration of alcohol a reading of 0.072 while driving along Robert St in South Tamworth.
About an hour later, a 20-year-old man was found driving unlicensed along Bridge St, Tamworth.
Both men were issued court attendance notices.