Eleven motorists have been detected for alleged drink driving, speeding and licence offences in a single night on the Mornington Peninsula during a Victoria Police operation coinciding with school leaver celebrations.
Police had additional patrols and specialist units across key routes between Mornington, Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento as young people travelled into the area to mark the end of school. According to Victoria Police, most of the alleged offending involved experienced drivers rather than school leavers.
Inspector Andrew Mckee, the Local Area Commander for Mornington Peninsula, said the results were disappointing given the focus on keeping young people safe.
“We currently have a large operation in place focused on keeping our young school leavers safe. It is particularly disappointing to see that a number of experienced drivers are in the area putting themselves and other road users at risk”
Eight alleged drink drivers detected
Across several locations, eight drivers allegedly returned blood alcohol readings over the legal limit. Police say the highest readings included:
- A 51-year-old Rye woman who allegedly returned 0.184 after a Volkswagen ute crashed into a hotel building on Point Nepean Road at about 9.05 pm. Her licence was suspended for 12 months and her vehicle impounded, with towing costs of $1225. She is expected to be charged on summons with drink driving offences.
- A 24-year-old Beaumaris man, stopped after leaving a hotel car park on Hotham Road, Sorrento, who allegedly returned a reading of 0.161. His licence was immediately suspended for 12 months and his vehicle impounded, also attracting $1225 towing costs. He is expected to be summonsed for drink driving offences.
- A 65-year-old Rosebud man, intercepted in a Volvo station wagon on Melbourne Road, Sorrento, who allegedly recorded 0.13. Police say his licence was suspended and his car impounded with $1225 towing costs, and he is expected to be summonsed to court.
A 20-year-old probationary driver from Mount Waverley was also intercepted in Rye just before 2 am. Police allege she returned a reading of 0.033 and she has received a three-month licence suspension and a $509 infringement.
At a separate random breath and drug testing site on Nepean Highway near Dava Drive in Mornington, Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section members detected four more alleged drink drivers:
- A 27-year-old Mount Martha woman who allegedly returned 0.156, had her licence suspended and car impounded with $1225 towing costs, and will be summonsed
- A 30-year-old Pakenham man, fined $611 and given a six-month licence suspension after an alleged reading of 0.068
- A 54-year-old Mornington man and a 45-year-old Hastings woman, each fined $611 and suspended for six months for alleged readings of 0.064 and 0.069 respectively
Speed and licence offences
Two drivers were detected for alleged high-end speed and one for allegedly driving while suspended.
On Browns Road at Boneo, police allege a white Audi coupe was seen overtaking on double lines and later travelling at 102 km/h in an 80 km/h zone before being intercepted. The 28-year-old Coburg driver received fines totalling $814 and six demerit points.
Somerville Highway Patrol officers also detected a Subaru wagon allegedly travelling at 133 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway about 11.35 pm. The driver, a 27-year-old Mount Martha man, was issued with a licence suspension and is expected to be charged on summons with speeding and other traffic offences.
In Sorrento, a Ford EcoSport was pulled over on Point Nepean Road about 10.20 pm for a licence check. Police say the 52-year-old Capel Sound man behind the wheel was found to be driving while his licence was suspended and is expected to be summonsed to court.
Ongoing police presence over summer
Inspector Mckee said local officers would continue working with specialist units to maintain a visible presence on Peninsula roads across the busy summer period.
“Local officers along with assistance from the Public Order Response Team, Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section and other specialist units will continue to patrol the area to ensure the safety of all. It is especially disappointing that this many drivers were detected doing the wrong thing in such a short period of time.
“Anyone putting our road users at risk will be subject to the full extent of the law to keep our communities safe.”
Police have urged people travelling to the Mornington Peninsula to plan ahead, allow extra time on the road, arrange alternative transport if they intend to drink and expect to encounter roadside testing on major routes.
