Police in Western Australia's north are urging the community to abide by alcohol carriage limits after charging six people — including a prominent traditional owner and a former AFL footballer — with breaking restrictions.

Under the alcohol carriage limits, passengers in vehicles are restricted to carrying one carton of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits, three bottles of wine, or 1 litre of spirits or fortified wine — or a combination of two products.

Alcohol-related harm in the Kimberley has been well-publicised in recent years, with liquor purchase restrictions in place in many communities, including Fitzroy Crossing.

WA Police issued a warning to Kimberley residents earlier this month, telling the ABC additional resources were being deployed to find people breaking the rules.

The practice of sly grogging, where people profit by selling alcohol into dry or liquor-restricted communities is also being targeted by police.

The purchase of alcohol in Broome and Derby is also under the microscope, with the state's director of liquor licensing currently weighing up whether to impose tougher restrictions on Kimberley towns.

Array of charges laid

At Fitzroy Crossing Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, six people faced charges of possessing quantities of alcohol that exceeded the current limits.

Rosita Shaw, a prominent Nyikina Mangala traditional owner and community leader, was fined $1,000 and costs of $273.

Police say she was driving a vehicle on the Great Northern Highway at about 3:50pm on March 1, when her car was stopped by officers.

Fifteen bottles of spirits were found in the vehicle.

Shaw told the ABC the alcohol was for a family gathering and was bought by a relative.

Former AFL player Zephaniah Skinner, 34, also appeared in court on Tuesday charged with possessing quantities of alcohol exceeding legal limits.

He was charged in November 2023 and has subsequently pleaded not guilty, with the matter set to go to trial in August.

Mr Skinner, who was drafted to the Western Bulldogs in 2020 and played eight games for the club, is facing five other unrelated charges.

Also on Tuesday, a 40-year-old woman was fined $1,500 and a 27-year-old woman was fined $500 for exceeding carriage limits. Both were charged on February 29 following police searches in Fitzroy Crossing.

Finally, two other women, both in their 50s, were charged with exceeding carriage limits on March 1, and were handed spent convictions on Tuesday.

Police 'fully committed' to issue

Kimberley District Police Superintendent Steve Thompson said the unlawful sale and supply of alcohol contributed to the level of harm experienced by the local community.

"[This] includes self-harm, violence, and family and domestic violence, and serious injury through increased risk taking," he said.

"Evidenced by the recent charges laid for person breaching carriage limits, Kimberley police are fully committed to enforce the law to keep our community safe."

Superintendent Thompson said police were using a number of tactics to find and charge people who broke the rules.