A baby found in a speeding car among criminals arrested by Queensland Police over the holiday

A baby was found unhindered in a speeding car – one of many driving offenses arrested by Queensland Police during a school holiday road safety crackdown.

“We still have the same old idiots doing the same old stupid things,” Police Secretary Mark Ryan said during a media call for Operation Charger.

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The baby was found when a 26-year-old man was pulled over on the Warrego Highway in Brigalow at 5:20 p.m. on January 2.

“Police intercepted a driver who was speeding and as police approached the vehicle, they observed a baby who was unbuckled in the passenger seat of this vehicle,” said Deputy Assistant Highway Patrol Commissioner Chris Stream.

The man was issued a ticket for using a vehicle with a different number plate or number plate or license, speeding more than 20 km/h and driving a motor vehicle while a passenger aged at least six months but less than four years old was not buckled.

He was penalized with eight demerits and a fine of nearly $2,000.

Although he did not go to court over the incident, a Queensland Police spokesman said that “his driver’s license could be in jeopardy and his wallet will be a lot lighter,” which is often a greater deterrent.

Other extreme offenses include a 35-year-old Redbank man caught driving 75mph in a 40mph zone, a 56-year-old Peregian Beach woman who returned a breath test score of .239 and a 40-year-old Loganlea man who returned a breath test reading of 0.241, both readings more than four times the legal alcohol limit.

So far this year, more than 600 people have been caught drinking and driving.

These numbers are on track to surpass last January’s totals.

So far, 353 people have been caught drunk behind the wheel and 248 drivers had drugs in the system.

“It’s extremely disappointing, it’s really frustrating for the police,” Stream said.

“(It’s) something that’s easily avoidable if you plan ahead,” he said.

Since January 1, motorists have committed more than 1,500 life-threatening offenses, nearly 500 have been caught speeding and 41 have been caught using a mobile phone.

“[There are]too many people who have been spotted breaking our rules of the road, driving irresponsibly and doing stupid things on our roads in the first week of this year,” Ryan said.

Five people have died on Queensland’s roads this year.

The main causes are a combination of speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not using a seat belt, fatigue and distraction.

Stream said it was “concerning” that three of those road accidents involved motorcyclists.

“Let me be blunt about Queensland carpooling,” he said. “If we continue to commit crimes like we’re currently seeing, we’re going to see more deaths.”

Police are warning drivers they will remain on duty until Operation Charger concludes on January 29