Hundreds of charges laid in first month of Taskforce Yankee Tread, Moreton District

The release

Police from the Moreton District Tactical Crime Squad have charged 81 people on 265 offences and issued 18 traffic infringement notices (TINS) to a further 11 people as part of Taskforce Yankee Tread, launched on 11 August to target dangerous driving behaviour across the district.

Seven vehicles have been seized along with false, stolen and altered licence plates. 12 vehicles have been immobilised for 90 days for repeat offences, and one vehicle has been impounded.

Taskforce Yankee Treat was established by the Moreton District in response to increased organised events involving in dangerous driving, unlawful street racing, burnout activity and associated criminal offending.

At approximately 11.24pm on 21 August, police were called to an industrial estate on Piper Street in Caboolture following reports multiple vehicles were conducting burnouts and being driven dangerously in the area.

Following further enquiries, police also observed the same vehicles conducting burnouts at Saltwater Circuit in Narangba.

It is alleged police attempted to intercept the vehicles when they fled the scene at speed.

Subsequent investigations lead police to attend an address on Morningview Drive in Caboolture where a black Ford Falcon was seized and an 19-year-old Caboolture man was arrested.

He was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, wilfully making unnecessary noise or smoke, driving an uninsured vehicle, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving a defective vehicle and failing to display red P plates, as well as two counts of possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.

He was due to face Caboolture Magistrates Court on 8 September.

A 19-year-old Sandstone Point man was also charged with participating in hooning group activity. He appeared in Pine River Magistrates Court on 7 September. He was also fined $1500.

A 17-year-old Narangba boy was also charged with participating in hooning group activity and obstructing police. He was dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

Just before 12.25am on 6 September, police were called to a licensed premise on Pumicestone Road to reports multiple vehicles were being driven dangerously in the area.