Cardinia Highway Patrol members patrolling the streets of Cardinia overnight have nabbed five drug drivers and a drink driver as part of Operation Compass.
The impaired drug driving incidents in Pakenham include:
• A man was intercepted on John Street on 24 April about 11.40pm. The 27-year-old probationary driver returned a positive oral fluid test for methylamphetamine. The Narre Warren man, who was also not displaying P plates, is expected to be charged on summons.
• A 38-year-old man from Cranbourne was pulled over in Main Street in the early hours of ANZAC day about 12.15am. He also provided a positive oral fluid test for methylamphetamine. He is expected to be charged on summons.
• In the third incident relating to drugs, a 19-year-old probationary driver, not displaying his P plates, was intercepted in Barrington Drive about 2.15am. He furnished a positive oral fluid test for cannabis. He was issued a penalty notice for $593 as it was a first impairment offence. The offence also includes a six-month suspension of licence.
• A 31-year-old man from Pakenham was pulled over on Southeast Boulevard just before 3am. He tested positive for methylamphetamine and was also issued a penalty notice for a first impairment offence.
The fifth incident involved the intercept of a 26-year-old man, who was found to be both drink and drug driving.
He was pulled over on the Princes Highway in Pakenham about 4.10am. The Pakenham man provided a positive oral fluid test for methylamphetamine and furnished an evidentiary breath test result of 0.050.
He will be charged on summons in relation to drink and drug driving.
In the last incident a 33-year-old man was intercepted in John Street in Pakenham about 12.40am.
The Cranbourne man returned a positive breath test before he furnished an evidentiary breath test result of 0.132.
His licence was immediately suspended, and his vehicle impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1445. It is expected the man will be charged on summons.
Operation Compass will continue until 11.59pm on Sunday 27 April with police to remain highly visible and enforcing across the state's roads in an effort to reduce road trauma.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
Quotes attributable to Cardinia Highway Patrol, Sergeant Mike Hannie:
These results are deplorable; to think we've picked up this number of impaired drivers during one shift in the Pakenham area alone is worrying.
While I'm glad we've removed these drivers from our roads, to see six men trying to drive while either drug or alcohol impaired, or both - is staggering.
Thank goodness we didn't have to knock on someone's door overnight. I only hope we make a difference and these drivers and others, think before they get behind the wheel.
