A LEARNER driver and their supervisor are among a number of drivers caught under the influence of drugs behind the wheel on Riverina roads over the long weekend.
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A total of 18 drink and drug drivers were caught as part of the Highway Patrol's Operation Slow Down, cracking down on traffic offences like speeding, mobile phone use and illicit substances.
Riverina Highway Patrol Acting Inspector Ben Smith said while the number of fines issued across the board were down, the road side testing results were disappointing.
"We had 10 people return positive drug tests and eight drink drivers," he said.
"Most disappointingly of those was an 18-year-old learner driver from Wagga, who police will be alleging tested positive for illicit drugs."
The L-Plater was not acting alone, according to Acting Inspector Smith, who alleged the driver's 37-year-old supervisor also tested positive for drug use.
"Both of those persons were arrested and taken to Wagga Police Station with charges pending," he said.
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Compounding the positive drug tests were the drivers found to be committing other offences in the process, according to Acting Inspector Smith.
"A man in his 20s in Junee tested positive for illicit drugs yesterday, and was found to be towing a stolen trailer that had been reported as taken from Wagga a month earlier," he said.
"Another lady last night was pulled over in Wagga and tested positive for illicit drugs who was also found to be in possession of a working taser and illicit drugs, so she was arrested and will front Wagga Local Court."
Officers patrolling Temora on Saturday night also spoke with a man in his 20s riding a pushbike without a helmet.
Police checks revealed the bike was stolen from a Wagga address about a month earlier.
"The message is that police are out there, and we are watching," Acting Inspector Smith said.