Leading Senior Constable Mal Marsden, Acting Sergeant Chris Tetof and Leading Senior Constable Linda Smallbones from Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol will be part of Operation RAID, targeting impaired drivers. 73962
By Nicole Williams
GREATER Dandenong motorists have been put on notice – drink and drive and the police will catch you.
Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol will be out in force over summer, targeting impaired drivers in the first phase of Victoria Police’s Summer Stay road enforcement campaign, Operation RAID.
Senior Sergeant Pat McGavigan, from the Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol, said they would increase booze and drug bus presence during Operation RAID.
“We want everyone to stay safe this summer and we will do everything we can to make it happen,” he said.
“Our warning is to be aware that we’re out looking for you if you drink and drive and it’s only a matter of time.
“If you don’t drink, congratulations for doing the right thing.”
Since Operation RAID started on Friday, Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol has nabbed a number of drink-drivers, including a repeat offender from Boronia.
The 48-year-old man was stopped by police after driving erratically in Grayling Crescent in Keysborough on Monday night and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.07.
The man had a previous drink-driving conviction so his licence was immediately suspended until he appeared in court.
A Dandenong P-plater was also caught over the blood alcohol limit when he ran a red light in the CBD on the Saturday night.
The male driver had a blood alcohol reading of 0.054 with two young passengers in the car.
Sen Sgt McGavigan said the last fatality in the Greater Dandenong area was in October and he wanted it to stay that way.
“We want everyone to see in next year,” he said.
“Especially after the tragedies around the state the last couple of weeks, we will keep working hard to reduce all collisions.”
“We’d rather see people at home than in hospital this Christmas.”
Operation RAID is running state-wide from Friday 18 November until Sunday 11 December with police also conducting cross-border patrols with South Australia and News South Wales officers.
All road users will be targeted, including heavy vehicles, light trucks, car drivers and motorcyclists.
