By NATALIE GALLENTI
POLICE are disappointed after a recent operation conducted in and around Woodgrove Shopping Centre saw Melton motorists charged with almost 50 offences.
The Melton Highway Patrol operation ran throughout July and focused on the notorious Barries and Coburns roads intersection which has consistently been ranked as one of the highest collision intersections in the municipality.
Leading Senior Constable Allan Edwards told Star 42 drivers were charged with a total of 49 offences.
“Disappointingly, over 50 per cent of offences detected related to excessive speed, with three drivers being checked at more than 25km per hour over the speed limit,” Leading Sen Const Edwards said.
“The main offences being targeted – seat belts and mobile phones – accounted for a small number of the offences detected, but this may have been due to poor weather conditions during most of the operation, making these offences far harder to observe.”
Five drivers were found to be unlicensed or disqualified, with two of these having their vehicles impounded.
The first vehicle impounded was that of a 29-year-old disqualified learner driver from Melton South, who had his Festiva sedan seized after he was checked on Barries Rd on 29 July.
The motorist had a history of driving while disqualified which resulted in his vehicle being impounded for 30 days.
Another disqualified learner driver had the car he was driving impounded when he was checked speeding through the road works area on High St. The 21-year-old Brookfield man had prior convictions for driving while disqualified.
Both drivers will be charged on summons to attend Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Meanwhile, a speeding motorist narrowly escaped having his vehicle impounded when he was intercepted doing 104km per hour on Coburns Rd on 3 August. The offender had his licence suspended for six months, received a fine of $614 and lost six demerit points.
