Christmas crackdown
CAUGHT: Drivers unlicensed, unregistered and over the limit
A 50-YEAR-OLD unaccompanied L-plater was caught driving with an alleged alcohol reading of 0.081 during a major police crackdown on our roads.
The woman, whose car was also allegedly unregistered, was slapped with an immediate $2096 fine.
Police scanned 13,996 licence plates during the highly resourced Operation Loop, enforced along the Geelong Ring Road on Friday.
The air wing, canine unit, state highway patrol and criminal investigation unit were called in to assist local highway patrol officers in en- forcing the law and cracking down on illegal behaviour.
A 41-year-old Anglesea mo- torcyclist was one of four drivers detected speeding during the crackdown.
Officers allege he was doing 130km/h in a 100km/h zone and only stopped when he saw the police air wing on the side of the road.
Police also arrested nine people wanted on warrants and caught 45 unregistered vehicles and one unregistered trailer.
Geelong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Gary Wilson said he was alarmed by the number of people driving unregistered vehicles.
He said motorists getting behind the wheel of unregistered cars were not covered by the TAC if they had a crash and that drivers who believed their cars were unregistered should go to VicRoads to register their vehicle.
Seven motorists were caught driving unlicensed while six suspended drivers were also detected.
Police also handed out tickets for three seatbelt offences and three mobile phone offences.
Sen-Sgt Wilson said the crackdown was part of a ramped-up police presence on the region’s roads ahead of the Christmas period.
“From our perspective coming up to the Christmas period with the end of year events there is increased likelihood of trauma,” Snr-Sgt Wilson said.
“Please use a designated driver, the risk is not worth it. We are asking people to take care of themselves and their mates.”
Last year 23 people died on Victorian roads from the start of December to Christmas Day.
Another six people lost their lives on the roads between Christmas and the New Year.