Melton police have started a double blitz in a bid to catch drivers under the influence of drink and drugs.
Operation Torpedo will focus on venues where football finals are being played.
And Operation Sundown, operated from both marked and unmarked police cars, will concentrate on vehicles leaving pubs and clubs.
Leading Senior Constable Allan Edwards said the operations would be over and above normal patrols and require 30 extra police shifts in the next month.
Operation Torpedo will set up booze buses near sporting venues and clubs, on top of random checks in the area.
“Melton highway patrol encourages anyone attending sporting functions over the finals period to make alternative arrangements for transport if they intend to consume alcohol,” Leading Senior Constable Edwards said.
The joint operations come in the wake of disturbing figures which show an increase in collisions in the months of July, August, September and October since 2008.
There have been seven fatal collisions, 46 serious injury collisions, 32 other injury collisions and 125 non-injury collisions in the Melton area that were directly attributed to alcohol.
Leading Senior Constable Edwards said another concerning trend was the number of vehicles being impounded each week, with 11 seized already in August.
“Offences are fairly evenly distributed between excessive speed, improper use, [burnouts] and suspended, disqualified and unlicensed driving,” he said.
“In one of the worst cases, a 22-year-old from Melton was detected doing 156km/h in an 80km/h zone on Mount Cottrell Road while on a suspended licence for a previous speeding offence.”
Leading Senior Constable Edwards said the man also had prior driving convictions.
His vehicle was impounded for 30 days and he will have to pay associated costs of $799 before he gets it back.
He will be charged on summons to attend Sunshine Magistrates Court.
Leading Senior Constable Edwards also said six vehicles had been impounded after their drivers did burnouts while leaving car washes.
Police have increased patrols near car washes late at night.
