A 23-year-old probationary driver from Maddingley, found to be four times over the legal limit, was among scores of drivers nabbed for driving offences during a major police crackdown over the Australia Day long weekend.
More than 5500 driving offences were detected by Victoria police during Operation Amity, a four-day statewide road policing operation.
Police targeted high-risk driving behaviour, with increased roadside alcohol and drug testing conducted over the four days.
Police servicing the Melton area detected 89 offences across drink driving, drug driving, speeding offences, and a plethora of other offences.
Along with the 23-year-old Maddingley man who returned an alleged evidentiary breath test reading of .213, were six drink and drug drivers (two drink, four drug), a further four combined drink/drug offences, four disqualified drivers and seven unlicensed drivers.
Police also identified 35 speeding offences, 16 failures to obey signs or signals, two seatbelt offences and two mobile phone offences, along with 12 unregistered vehicles. One vehicle was impounded.
Over in Moorabool, police detected a total of 82 offences during the operation, including 11 drink and drug drivers (six drink, five drug), one combined drink/drug offence and one other drink/drug offence.
Officers also identified three disqualified drivers, with no unlicensed drivers detected. Traffic enforcement resulted in 62 speeding offences, one failure to obey signs or signals, two unregistered vehicles, and one vehicle impounded.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police continue to see too many people making “poor choices”.
“The number of drink drivers caught during Operation Amity is concerning, particularly with so many high-range detections – but any level of impairment on our roads is cause for concern,” he said.
