’Nats fine blitz

By Shaun Inguanzo
A SUSPENDED motorist driving a $100,000 supercharged performance vehicle was one of hundreds of offenders netted by police in a major crackdown at the EasterNats at the weekend.
The Victoria Police Road Safety Task Force targeted the Sandown Raceway event, reputed for its legal drag racing and burn-out competitions and slapped drivers with 85 defect and 26 penalty notices.
Infringements covered vehicles that were unregistered and unroadworthy, including too low to the ground.
Police also found seven unregistered vehicles, four disqualified or suspended drivers, and five unlicensed drivers.
The EPA issued 17 prohibition and 24 infringement notices for excessive noise, and has called another 105 cars in for noise and emissions testing.
Police media officer Stacey Mair said a motorist with a suspended licence was caught by police driving a performance vehicle fitted with a nitrous-oxide speed boosting system.
“The vehicle was also too low to the ground and had a supercharger fitted to it,” she said. “A noise test was conducted with the result coming in at 120decibels, 24decibels over the maximum allowed. The driver of the show car was also driving on a suspended licence and claimed that he was driving it because he couldn’t afford a trailer.”
Meanwhile, police intercepted a Springvale man travelling at 147 km/h in an 80km/h zone along the Princes Highway in Clayton at 12.15am on Easter Sunday.