Casey Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts and Leading Senior Constable Linda Smallbones have been conducting Operation RAID in Casey for the past few weeks. 73901
By Bridget Cook
DRIVERS in the City of Casey recorded the eighth highest number of drink driving offences in the state during Operation RAID which wound up on Sunday.
Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) was a state-wide operation, which had a focus on alcohol and drug affected drivers which ran from Friday 25 November.
Casey police conducted 9208 breath tests and detected 31 drink drivers – one of the highest numbers detected in the state.
In total, local police detected 680 offences including drink driving, drug driving, disqualified and unlicensed driving and seatbelt, speeding and mobile phone offences.
Casey Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts said it was sad the message was not getting through to some drivers.
He said 31 people would not have their licence anymore.
“We are trying to get the message through. We ran breath testing station and after breath testing station.
“Still disappointing that there are people out there who think they can run the gauntlet.
“The sheer volume of police out on the road and the number of breath tests being conducted given the high risk time for road users; those wanting to run the gauntlet will pay the price.”
The operation is the first of three operations to be run throughout the Summer Stay road enforcement campaign over the festive season.
Police will now kick off Operation Aegis XI, which will focus on a range of driving offences including alcohol, drugs, speed, fatigue and distraction.
“Casey police will be supplemented by State Highway Patrol and members of the operation response unit,” Acting Sen Sgt Roberts said.
“There’s definitely going to be a substantial increase in staffing levels in all of the City of Casey.”
Acting Sen Sgt Roberts said police would be taking a almost zero tolerance to speedsters.
“People need to get away from the mindset that they can travel a little bit over the speed limit,” he said.
“Their expectations on what police will and won’t allow may not be what they think.
“People who choose to speed, even just a little bit, are in for a rude shock.”
Operation Crossroads to be held following the completion of Operation Aegis XI.
