Police have issued more than 1500 traffic infringement notices. Photo: NSW Police.
As well as speeding and reckless driving, one motorist has been caught driving on alpine roads with an unrestrained mother and baby in the car as a major police operation hits the halfway mark.
Operation Snow Safe runs for a four-month period between June and October. It sees the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with Monaro Police District officers, focus on dangerous driving behaviour.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Acting Superintendent Lee Ingmire said officers were catching a number of drivers taking risks on the road.
“We know driving to and from the alpine regions presents a number of challenges, including black ice, changing weather conditions, increased traffic and drivers who are often travelling long distances,” she said.
“It’s very concerning to see drivers excessively speeding, mixing drugs and alcohol while driving and failing to appropriately restrain their passengers including young children.”
According to NSW Police, officers have issued 1575 infringement notices (including 1110 for speeding) since Operation Snow Safe began.
On 16 June, police stopped a car on the Kosciuszko Road, Smiggins Holes, that was allegedly travelling at 93km/h in an 80km/h signposted area. When officers spoke to the 36-year-old man, who had an international licence, they allegedly found four unrestrained passengers (including a 36-year-old woman with a six-month-old baby on her lap).
The driver was issued with a traffic infringement notice for driving over the speed limit and driving with passengers who were unsecured.
NSW Police allege that at about 3:40 pm on 28 June 2025, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were patrolling Alpine Way at Crackenback when they detected a driver allegedly travelling 141km/h in a 80km/h signposted zone, while overtaking another vehicle.
Police pulled over a 55-year-old driver and issued him with an infringement notice for speeding.
His licence was also suspended.
Eleven people have also been charged with drink driving.
Eight infringement notices were issued for low-range prescribed concentration of alcohol (or PCA), while 35 people allegedly returned a positive drug test. Those samples have also been sent away for secondary testing.
About 6:20 pm on Friday 25 July 2025, police were called to Gippsland Street in Jindabyne following reports a car and a bus had collided. The bus sustained minor damage, while the car was significantly damaged.
Officers breath-tested the 29-year-old male driver, and he allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Jindabyne Police Station, where he allegedly returned a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.237. He allegedly also returned a positive drug test for cannabis and cocaine.
The man was handed a 24-hour prohibition notice from driving and was charged with drink and drug driving.
He was issued with a court attendance notice and is next expected to appear in Cooma Local Court on 5 November 2025.
At about 9:30 pm on Saturday 19 July 2025, police were patrolling Kosciusko Road in Jindabyne when they pulled over a ute. The 34-year-old learner driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive result. He was taken to Jindabyne Police Station and allegedly returned a positive blood reading of 0.049.
The man was issued with traffic infringement notices for driving or towing a vehicle with an unsecured load, not displaying L plates as prescribed and not keeping left of the median strip.
He was also issued a 24-hour prohibition notice from driving and a court attendance notice for driving with a special range PCA.
Later that evening, police allegedly detected the same vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. They pulled over the vehicle and found a 34-year-old male driver behind the wheel. Police say he was previously the passenger.
The second man allegedly returned a positive blood alcohol reading and was taken to Jindabyne Police Station, where he allegedly returned a reading of 0.131.
The man was issued a court attendance notice for driving with a middle-range PCA. He was also handed a 24-hour prohibition notice from driving.
A/Superintendent Ingmire said some drivers were not using safety equipment, such as snow chains.
Police also issued 47 drivers with infringements for failing to use road vehicle safety equipment, which can incur a $300 fine.
“We encourage people to hire snow chains, learn how to fit them appropriately and use the designated chain bays on the way to the snow,” she said.
“Don’t leave it until you’re on the highway and snow is falling to take those safety precautions.”
In NSW, snow chains must be carried by all 2WD vehicles driving in Kosciuszko National Park between the June and October long weekends.
They are not compulsory for 4WD and AWD vehicles, but National Parks strongly recommends them.
She also urged motorists to check weather conditions before leaving for the snow, and if snowfield carparks were full.
“This only leads to further frustration for drivers and can lead to crashes and delays for motorists.”
“We encourage people to check the Transport for NSW website or consider public transport.”
On Saturdays and Sundays in July, 2600 cars were turned around on Kosciuszko Road, while 2400 cars were turned around on Alpine Way, with assistance from Transport for NSW.
Operation Snow Safe saw seven people being charged over one weekend, which also saw one person handed a criminal infringement notice for possessing fireworks, as well as the seizure of MDMA, cannabis, ketamine and other illicit drugs.
Operation Snow Safe continues.
