Following the detection of 11 drivers for drink or drug driving in Mitchell Shire during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, police have warned motorists to stay vigilant with school holiday traffic set to begin.
Police breath tested 1113 drivers in Mitchell Shire during the weekend.
Police also detected 74 other offences, including one requiring the impoundment of an unregistered car at Kilmore.
A Kilmore woman, 29, had her car impounded on the Northern Highway, Kilmore, on June 11.
Police initially intercepted the driver for driving an unregistered car, and further checks revealed the driver was not licensed and provided a positive drug test.
The driver will be summonsed to court at a later date and must pay $906 to release her car from impoundement after 30 days.
As part of Victoria Police’s Operation Regal in division three, which takes in the Benalla, Seymour, Wallan, Mansfield and Shepparton policing districts, a total of 22 drivers were detected for drink or drug driving – half of whom were in Mitchell Shire.
Police tested a total of 4378 drivers across the division.
A total of 300 offences were detected across the division, predominantly speed offences.
Acting Senior Sergeant Tom Brown issued a warning to drivers about driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“The driving community are to be commended for the courtesy and restraint they showed each other over the weekend, but the instance of drink or drug driving remains an issue,” he said.
“Taking away the fact that it is illegal, anyone who makes the decision to drive a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of an illicit drug puts their own safety and those persons around at great risk.
“It is not worth it, and I can guarantee that you will be detected.”
Acting Sen Sgt Brown said with the school holidays approaching, now was the time to do safety checks on vehicles, caravans and boat trailers.
“Make sure that the tyres are safe to use, that the brakes are in good condition and that all lights are operable,” he said.
“Also, when loading caravans, do not overload them beyond what they are legally allowed to carry, doing so will put you and your family at risk of an accident happening.
“Do the right thing and enjoy your time away.”
Across Victoria, more than 5000 offences were detected during the long weekend.
Police targeted high-risk driving behaviour over four days in an effort to drive down road trauma.
Wet weather did not deter some motorists from slowing down, with more than 40 per cent of all offences detected for speeding.
Automatic numberplate recognition technology helped police detect 459 unauthorised drivers – either for being unlicenced, disqualified or suspended.
Widespread alcohol and drug testing also resulted in 195 drink drivers and 177 drug drivers caught from a total 78,350 tests.
The total 5689 offences detected during the operation included:
- 2437 speeding offences
- 701 unregistered vehicles
- 459 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
- 304 disobey signs/signals
- 195 drink driving offences from 75,002 preliminary breath tests
- 191 mobile phone offences
- 177 drug driving offences from 3348 roadside drug tests
- 116 vehicle impoundments
- 72 seatbelt offences.
