DILLS who drove recklessly on North Stradbroke Island were slapped with fines to the tune of about $850 after a video of their four-wheel drive escapades - performed in hire cars - was posted on Instagram.
Police launched an investigation into the matter on February 1 and charged a 30-year-old Kangaroo Point man with drink driving, a matter which is before the courts.
The footage - allegedly filmed by those involved - was found during follow-up inquiries, and shows two people driving the cars recklessly, performing donuts while passengers are not wearing seatbelts.
Police said one manoeuvre saw a 200 series LandCruiser lose a tire.
Sergeant Scanlan said the behaviour could have had tragic consequences.
"The seven Gold Coast residents in the LandCruiser were not wearing seatbelts at the time," he said.
"By losing the tire off the rim, they were lucky the vehicle didn't roll.
"They all took turns driving like idiots and have each been fined about $850."
Road behaviour continues to be an issue on the island, with 17 infringement notices handed out over the past two weeks for things like speeding, parking and driving unregistered vehicles.
Police said the highest speed recorded was a 48-year-old Cornubia man who was caught doing 30km/h over the speed limit on East Coast Road.
"This week officers from Dunwich undertook training which qualified them to operate both mobile and stationary speed detection devices," Sergeant Scanlan said.
"This will greatly increase our capability to detect and disrupt speeding drivers and ultimately save lives though increased enforcement."
'Waste of resources' in flare call-out on Straddie
Water police, Volunteer Marine Rescue and other crews were involved in a search on Friday, May 14 which police say was a complete waste of resources.
They were called into action after emergency services received multiple calls from Cleveland and Dunwich residents about a flare sighting about 5.45pm.
A Polair chopper north of the Gold Coast saw a second flare then police patrolling Oxley Parade at Dunwich, saw a third flare nearby.
They moved to Petrie Street, where the flare landed, and spoke to people sitting at a fire in their front yard.
The group told police they had not seen any flares but then changed their story, saying they would not provide a name for the person who set off the devices.
Sergeant Darren Scanlan said people who reported the flares did the right thing by contacting emergency services.
"Unfortunately those who lit the flares were more concerned about the police vehicle's lights shining in their eyes than cooperating with police," he said.
"Some of the individuals involved are in positions where they should be role models to our youth. Instead of calling out bad behaviour, they treated it like a joke.
"... All sightings are treated as priority until proven otherwise."
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