By Alesha Capone
MORE than 250 speeding drivers were caught out by Brimbank police during a summer blitz on the state’s roads.
In Brimbank, there were also 191 disqualified and unlicensed drivers detected while Victoria Police’s Summer Stay operation was conducted from 18 November until 9 January.
Within the period, 255 motorists busted speeding on Brimbank’s roads, 115 motorists were charged with mobile phone offences, 85 with seatbelt offences and 44 with drink driving.
Brimbank Highway Patrol Sergeant Rod Stein said his team also caught seven hoon drivers during the first week of 2012.
From 1 to 8 January, officers impounded seven cars under the state’s anti-hoon laws, one for excessive speed, and the others for driving while disqualified or unlicensed.
“I would think we have a larger number of suspended or disqualified drivers in the area, I don’t know if there are more in Brimbank than in any other area, but we catch more,” Sgt Stein said.
“I don’t know if there are more suspended or disqualified drivers in Brimbank than elsewhere, but over here they tend to drive more.”
Sgt Stein said motorists caught driving while suspended or disqualified could incur a fine of more than $500 for the first offence and could face jail for a second offence.
“Excuses tend to include, ‘I didn’t know’, ‘It’s an emergency’, ‘I thought I got my licence back yesterday’ even though they have three or four months to go and ‘I have no other way to get around or go to work’,” he said.
“None of those is a valid excuse, unfortunately.”
Sgt Stein said the latest fatality on Brimbank’s roads happened on 18 December, when a motorcyclist was involved in a Derrimut accident, but most motorists obeyed the law across the Christmas season.
“We have had a couple of serious injury collisions since then, but not as many as we have expected, so overall we’re pleased with driver behaviour, but there’s a small percentage who continue to flout the law and they’re the ones we’re after,” Sgt Stein said.
In February this year, the Brimbank Highway Patrol plan to launch an operation within the
St Albans CBD to crack down on illegal behaviour of pedestrians and drivers.
