Fawkner Highway Patrol target drink and drug drivers along CityLink
A man who just couldn’t hold it was among hundreds of drivers tested for alcohol and drugs during a seven-hour police sting along CityLink.
North West
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Hundreds of drivers have been tested for alcohol and drugs during a Fawkner Highway Patrol sting along CityLink in Melbourne’s northwest.
Police nabbed 11 drink-drivers during the seven-hour operation on the toll road’s on and off ramps, while a man also received a ticket for offensive behaviour after he was caught urinating into a bin used by officers.
A drug-driver was also caught and five cars impounded for suspended and unlicensed driving.
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Highway patrol officers and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section tested 1700 motorists between 8pm and 3am on December 13-14 at ramps between Bulla Rd and the Bolte Bridge, including Brunswick, Mt Alexander and Pascoe Vale roads and Bell St.
Fawkner Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Pickering said there appeared to be a misconception that people wouldn’t be tested while driving on freeways.
“The amount of people expressing their surprise at our presence on the ramps was high,” he said.
“It is frustrating that people still choose to drink drive and the results indicate a need to do this type of testing.”
Fawkner Highway Patrol’s bike squad was also out on Sydney Rd this week targeting driver distraction, with the Leader granted exclusive access the operation.
Officers say they averaged about 25 mobile phone offences each per shift on the bikes – almost $25,000 a day in fines.
Both activities formed part of Operation Roadwise, the annual 24-day road policing action over the Christmas and New Year period.
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Leading Senior Constable Melissa Seach said during the festive period motorists can expect to be breath tested, drug tested and have their vehicles scanned and speed-checked to make sure everyone returned home safely to their families.
“Operation Roadwise involves all available personnel, including local road policing units, general duties, other operational policing units and centralised resources from Road Policing Command,” she said.
It runs until January 5, 2020.