By CASEY NEILL
HUNDREDS of Greater Dandenong drivers are flouting driving bans, according to highway patrol figures.
On 14 January, two highway patrol members worked alongside a booze bus crew in Jacksons Road, Noble Park North.
They checked registration numbers from 158 of the 650 vehicles that went through the bus and detected four suspended drivers, including one repeat offender whose car they impounded at the scene.
Sergeant Jeff Stockdale told the Journal that the Greater Dandenong unit’s officers last year took 257 people to court for driving with a suspended licence, and 77 for driving while disqualified.
“It’s a staggering number, really,” he said.
And these figures are just from the 12 or so Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol members.
Sgt Stockdale said uniform officers, State Highway Patrol and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) operations would have nabbed many more.
“It’s really disappointing to see people driving around without a license to do so,” he said.
He said “I didn’t know” was the most common excuse from drivers caught behind the wheel while disqualified or suspended.
The highway patrol also took more than 100 unlicensed drivers to court during 2013, with more motorists issued with on-the-spot infringement notices for the offence, Sgt Stockdale said.
