Trouble-plagued booze buses remain off the road due to engineering issues

Six booze buses purchased in a $15 million road safety boost have been out of operation for four months as police pour hundreds of thousands into probing mechanical, electrical and airconditioning issues.

Inspector Dani Leemon, Senior Sergeant Jacob Paula, Constable Katey Zivkovic and Constable Nathan Anderson with the smaller booze buses in late 2018. Picture: Tony Gough

Police have spent $320,000 to find out what’s wrong with trouble-plagued booze buses but still have no answers.

The six smaller buses have already been off the road for four months and it’s unclear when they’ll be back in service.

Findings from tests on their handling and suspension are due in coming weeks.

The Sunday Herald Sun has learned the buses have mechanical, electrical and airconditioning issues.

Police were forced to call in and pay for two independent engineering firms to work on a remedy for the problems.

An engineering review has been conducted and tests are now underway.

The smaller booze buses were among 10 new vehicles purchased in a $15 million road safety boost. Picture: Tony Gough

It’s expected these will identify what work the company which supplied the buses will have to complete before they can be put back in service.

Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said: “The testing of the six small booze buses is necessary for the safety of both the community and our members.”

“Victoria Police will continue to conduct additional testing until we are confident this can be achieved,’’ Mr Leane said.

The smaller custom-built bus fleet — designed to catch drink and drug drivers on residential roads and backstreets — was deployed in September last year. Six were then pulled from service two weeks before Easter.

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The buses were among 10 new vehicles purchased in a $15 million road safety boost.

The force maintains their withdrawal has not reduced how many drivers are being tested for drugs and alcohol.

“There continues to be no impact to service delivery of drug and alcohol testing across Victoria,’’ Mr Leane said.

“Our police are out there day and night, both in cars and other booze buses working as hard as they can to get impaired drivers off our roads.”

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