The Drager 5000 mobile drug testing units were introduced in the Shoalhaven in August.

The Drager allows police to gain a positive or negative reading on cannabis and methamphetamines, in the form of speed, ecstasy or ice, in under 10 minutes, if a motorist has returned an initial positive roadside test.

Between August and November 249 people have tested positive to driving in the Shoalhaven with drugs in their systems.

The charges come from 29 different Shoalhaven suburbs, with 114 people being issued with court attendance notices for driving with illegal drugs.

Police are waiting on the results of the other tests.

Commanding officer of Shoalhaven Highway Patrol, Sergeant Mick Tebbutt said he was surprised by the results.

“It’s a concern. The positive tests may not mean a driver is impaired, it is just that they have either methamphetamines or cannabis present in their systems,” he said.

“People don’t realise how long the drugs stay in their systems.

“We have had a number of drivers who may have taken drugs three or four days previously but still test positive.”

He said on average cannabis can stay in a person’s system for between three and five days, while ice can be present for up to five days.

“We have had drivers who have tested positive to both cannabis and methamphetamines,” he said.

“Yet, they claim they have never touched meth. Possibly it’s because the cannabis is so strong or maybe their cannabis is being laced with something?

“We are getting people of all types testing positive. We have even had businesspeople.

“At the moment the positive tests are about equal for cannabis and meth.”

He said if a driver was considered to be impaired by drugs they were still taken for blood and urine tests.

“I suppose the clear message is that drug driving tests are now as common as random breath tests and if you drive with drugs in your system you will get caught.”

Nowra tops the regions for the number of arrests with 111, South Nowra has had 30, Bomaderry 27, Sanctuary Point 21 and Worrigee 9.

The majority of offenders are aged between 25 and 40, with 51 people aged 25-29 charged and 46 charged aged 35-39.

Only eight have been charged in the under 20 age group, while the oldest person testing positive was an 81-year-old male, for cannabis.

Of those charged, 197 have been males and 52 were females.

Sgt Tebutt said 13 people had been charged with a second offence, while 27 people had tested positive two or more times.

“We have three people who have tested positive five times,” he said.

Neighbouring commands have also seen a large increase in drug driving charges since the technology has been introduced.

A recent operation at Batemans Bay and Bega produced 35 positive readings from 50 tests, while Queanbeyan is averaging five drug driving charges a day.

Sgt Tebbutt said local police would be stepping up operations to catch drug drivers and warned of an increased police presence in the Shoalhaven over the Christmas period.

Operation Safe Arrival will be held in the Shoalhaven from December 18 to January 3.