A police operation targeting illegally modified cars in New South Wales (NSW) has resulted in 24 defect notices being issued to motorists in a single day.

    On Sunday August 18, officers from Illawarra Traffic and Highway Patrol teamed up with Transport for NSW compliance inspectors to run Operation Dissent, setting up a temporary inspection site in Bulli, near Wollongong.

    A total of 26 vehicles were inspected at the station, where 12 drivers were issued major grounding defect notices, and another 12 more were issued with notices only allowing them to drive their vehicles home.

    Another 13 vehicles allegedly failed to attend the inspection site and were referred to Transport for NSW inspectors for further action.

    Police issued a further 69 unrelated traffic infringement notices, while conducting 26 breath tests and 26 drug tests, resulting in two drivers being charged with drink driving offences and four drivers charged with drug driving offences.

    The operation also resulted in a 20-year-old Volkswagen Golf GTD driver being charged with 11 offences; after he was seen driving along Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Austinmer and later located inside the car at a carpark on King Street, Thirroul.

    Charges against him include hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty, driving on a licence which expired more than two years ago, driving an unregistered, uninsured and defective vehicle with no number plates, as well as drug and weapons related violations.

    Operation Dissent will continue to run throughout 2024 and beyond.

    MORE: NSW Police dangerous driving blitz sees 12 motorists charged, over 100 fined

    Jordan Mulach

    Born and raised in Canberra, Jordan has worked as a full-time automotive journalist since 2021, being one of the most-published automotive news writers in Australia before joining CarExpert in 2024.

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