Complaints about small trucks on residential streets and concerns about truck driver behaviour sparked a police operation in Kilmore, Wallan and Beveridge last week.
Wallan and Kilmore police led the three-day traffic operation targeting tippers, cement, quarry trucks around new housing estates.
Sergeant Kalev Jones said the operation was in response to community concerns.
“These trucks are the ones that are moving machinery, soil, et cetera around the area, in particular with the new estates in the Kilmore and Wallan and Beveridge areas,” he said.
“We’re targeting their load capacity as well so they’re not overloaded, [as well as] the safety of the trucks and then we’re also targeting their general road manner.”
“Members aim to enforce, educate and punish those that are disregarding the road rules. This includes but not limited to, drug and alcohol testing, defect checks, speed, mobile phone offending.”
From Monday to Wednesday last week, 23 vehicles were intercepted over 547 minutes, where drivers were drug and alcohol tested.
Two infringement notices were issued for drivers who failed to give way.
Two other matters are also under investigation.
One was a truck driver driving while suspended, who also had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested and charged, and bailed to appear in court at a later date.
“The other wasn’t a truck intercept but a vehicle was located and the occupants were acting suspicious,” Sgt Jones said.
“Members conducted a search of the vehicle and a small amount of drugs were located. The occupants were charged for drug-related offences.” Three defect notices were issued for vehicles not being roadworthy – mostly lights not working.
Sgt Jones said while he was pleased with the low infringement numbers, they could have been due to a number of factors.
“This can happen when word amongst the truck drivers gets out that we are out and about, which in turn is good, as it changes their behaviour and then they are never too sure when we are out and about again,” he said.
Sgt Jones said the blitz would assist police in reducing offending and serious collisions in future.
