Police concerned over long weekend incidents

POLICE in the Moorabool Service Area have expressed worries over driver behaviour during a recent operation, conducted to coincide with the ANZAC Day public holiday.

Operation Tribute was conducted over five days, and concluded on Sunday 28 April.

Victoria Police were out in force conducting patrols at known road trauma locations whilst conducting preliminary breath tests (PBTs), oral fluid tests, and speed and seatbelt enforcement.

Locally, over 1100 PBTs were conducted with a number of drivers processed for drink driving, drug driving and general offending including exceeding the speed limit and seatbelt and traffic light noncompliance.

A total of 72 drivers were processed for general offences, with six drivers processed for drink driving, five for drug driving, and three vehicles were impounded for relevant impoundment offences.

Three motorcyclists were also processed for general offences by local police.

The most concerning incident occurred on Sunday night while Ballarat Highway Patrol members were conducting laser speed detection on the Western Highway at Warrenheip.

Police will allege that at approximately 7.20pm, they detected an Infiniti Q30 travelling Westbound at 158 km/h.

Police will also allege that the driver, a 38-year-old female from Sebastopol later tested positive to methamphetamine and at the time, her 9-year-old child was in the front passenger seat.

The driver’s vehicle was impounded by Police for a period of 30 days and at a cost of $1425, and she will be summonsed to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court at a later date.

Across the state, 6,857 traffic offences were detected as part of Operation Tribute, with more than a third of those related to speeding.

441 motorists were detected across the state driving while disqualified, suspended, or unlicenced.

“Anzac Day is an important time of reflection and paying our respects, however it’s a shame we don’t see this extended to people’s behaviour on the roads,” Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir, said.

“There is a clear lack of regard for the rules despite our continuous warnings that police will be out enforcing during high-risk periods – almost 7,000 offences detected over five days is disappointing.

“Police will continue to be out enforcing anywhere, anytime, so if you’re think you won’t be caught doing the wrong thing, there’s a good chance we’ll catch up with you.”