Police caught 37 drink and drug drivers during a major road policing operation on the Monash Freeway over the weekend.
Operation Colossus, which was conducted over Friday and Saturday night, saw police conducting high volume alcohol and drug testing on the Monash Freeway at Dandenong North, targeting impaired drivers.
Police conducted 1899 preliminary breath tests, with 24 drivers caught exceeding the alcohol limit.
The highest alleged reading was .174 and most offending drivers were between .05 and .10.
Thirteen crime offences were detected, including: theft of motor vehicle, theft of number plates, possess drug of dependence, possess counterfeit money, fail to stop on police direction, and dangerous driving while being pursued.
Three people were arrested in three separate incidents:
• Police intercepted a 36-year-old man after he allegedly failed to stop on police direction in a stolen vehicle. He was arrested in Keysborough and was remanded.
• Officers deployed stop sticks in Dandenong to intercept another stolen vehicle that allegedly failed to stop on police direction. The 30-year-old female driver was arrested and remanded.
• A 26-year-old man allegedly tested positive to drug driving and enquiries revealed the number plates were homemade and the vehicle was stolen.
Thirteen drivers also tested positive for drugs, with police conducting 54 roadside drug tests during the operation.
Victoria Police is warning motorists there is a zero tolerance to drink and drug driving, with significant penalties for those who disregard the rules.
First time offenders who are fully licenced and over 26 years of age caught with a blood alcohol limit between 0.05 and 0.07 will receive a $611 fine and immediate three-month licence suspension.
The penalties increase substantially for those under 26 years of age, those required to have a zero blood or breath alcohol level, those caught for second or subsequent drink driving offences, and those caught over 0.07 or above - including larger fines, longer licence suspensions, alcohol interlocks, attendance at court and even jail time for the most serious offences.
Exceeding the prescribed concentration of drugs while driving carries a $611 penalty and a six-month licence suspension.
Police also detected thirteen unauthorised drivers (unlicensed/suspended/disqualified), intercepted four unregistered motor vehicles, detected 31 other traffic offences and impounded 13 vehicles over the two nights.
Operation Colossus was conducted by Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol members, with support from uniform police, State Highway Patrol and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section.
Victoria Police will continue to conduct several major road policing operations targeting impaired drivers over the coming months, with December historically the worst month for drink and drug driving detections.
Motorists should expect to be tested - anywhere, anytime.
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