Coronavirus Melbourne: Maroondah highway patrol out in full force
People self isolating means there’s a lot less traffic on the roads — but that doesn’t mean drivers can relax. Traffic police want you to know they’re still around.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Just because there’s less traffic on the roads, it doesn’t mean you can lower your driving standards, traffic police are warning.
Maroondah highway patrol Sergeant Michael Aston said there were no plans to cut back on traffic policing, even with many people staying home in line with the Government’s advice surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak.
His team caught a number of law-breakers when they ran one of their regular operations outside the chocolate factory on Canterbury Rd in Ringwood from noon to 6pm on Tuesday, March 24.
MORE: TEENS BUSTED RIDING ILLEGAL MONKEY BIKE IN EASTERN SUBURBS PARK
THE WORST EXCUSES MELBOURNE’S TRAFFIC COPS HEAR
DO YOUR BIT TO PROTECT OUR FIREFIGHTERS
Using an automatic number plate recognition device, they stopped two drivers who were legally required to have an alcohol interlock but didn’t, nine drivers in unregistered vehicles and one driver whose licence was suspended.
They also took a drug driver off the road and stopped a driver who wasn’t using a seatbelt.
Sgt Aston said police definitely observed a reduced number of cars on the roads, but probably caught the same ratio of offenders as they normally would.
He said police were using single-use drug tests that required minimal handling, and were wiping down all their devices.