‘RADAR’ REYNOLDS BUSTS 4000 LEADFOOTS
Hoons beware of Inverleigh’s ‘Radar’ Reynolds
DON’T speed through Inverleigh because chances are you’ll get a fine or lose your licence.
The town’s only police officer, Leading Senior-Constable Chris Reynolds, is so well known for enforcing the law that even Mildura cops know his name.
The one-time St Kilda police officer switched from the city beat for the country four years ago and moved his family from Geelong to the Inverleigh police station.
But the quieter country life has not stemmed the hardworking officer’s passion for enforcing the law and saving lives.
Sen-Constable Reynolds has issued more than 4000 tickets — mostly for speeding — since taking over the patch.
With the minimum speeding fine standing at $201 for anyone exceeding the limit by less that 10km/h, it means his work has sent $840,000 into state coffers.
He estimates he issues about 1200 tickets a year and has been awarded two commendations for his dedication to road safety.
Most tellingly, since Sen-Constable Reynolds took over the patch there have been no fatalities at Inverleigh.
The tireless law enforcer makes no apologies for his tough stance and says he witnessed horrifying speeds when he first moved to the area — with trucks regularly clocked at 156km/h in an 80km/h zone.
He recalls pulling up an unaccompanied L-plater doing 139km/h on the Colac-Ballarat road and nabbing a driver at 150km/h on the rural Dog Rocks Rd.
But for Sen-Constable Reynolds the driving force behind his work is not to hand out thousands of tickets or receive commendations.
It’s to change behaviour and curb road trauma.
“I used to get about 1200 tickets a year — now I’m not getting as many because the number of drivers speeding has reduced,” Sen-Constable Reynolds said.
“Locals see me around everywhere. If they are speeding there is a good chance they are going to get detected.”
“The aim of policing is stop criminal behaviour and enforcement is a key factor. I believe it stops a lot.”
Sen-Constable Reynolds still remembers the odour of the first and worst fatality he went to.
It was a fiery double fatality in Melbourne.
“The two occupants were burned it the car. It’s not nice to go to something like that. I can still remember the smell of the scene and having to tell the relatives,” Sen-Constable Reynolds said.
To prevent this happening again, the father of three has changed his work shifts to coincide with the most dangerous times of days.
Despite nabbing many locals, Sen-Constable Reynolds says he has found the Inverleigh community very supportive of his tireless efforts.
“They don’t want people speeding through their town, they don’t want people speeding through the school crossing,” Sen-Constable Reynolds said.
Local Peter Trevaskis said the affable policeman was well respected and liked.
“I made a trip to Mildura and when I said I was from Inverleigh they said, ‘You want to watch out for the coppers down there — they’re dynamite,” Mr Trevaskis said.
“He is very on the ball in terms of road safety.”
Mr Trevaskis said Sen-Constable Reynolds was very good at being at being “a country cop”.
“He’s an approachable person and very sensible — but if you step over the line he will set you straight
“It’s really about looking after the town.”