More than 160 unregistered, unlicensed and disqualified drivers were caught in a one-day police sting across Wyndham and Brimbank earlier this week.
Westgate road policing advisor Damien Madden said the state’s five BlueNet cars – which are equipped with automatic number plate recognition, in-car video and mobile data technology – were deployed across both areas, followed by highway patrol cars, for Operation BlueNet.
The BlueNet cars rapidly scan number plates using cameras mounted on the exterior of the car, which alerts police to illegal drivers or vehicles of interest.
Police also ran static automatic number plate recognition sites along Duncans Road, Princes Highway and Old Geelong Road, plus three in Brimbank.
Police caught out 76 unregistered vehicles, 37 unlicenced drivers, 17 disqualified or suspended drivers, 14 unaccompanied learner drivers, five speeding drivers, five mobile phone infringements, three seatbelt infringements, three drug drivers and one drink driver.
Two cars were impounded on the day.
Senior Sergeant Madden said the results were disappointing, particularly the two offenders caught in a stolen vehicle, and numerous learner drivers driving unaccompanied.
He said the prison riot in Ravenhall resulted in many Brimbank resources going to the Metropolitan Remand Centre, but said Wyndham resources remained largely unaffected.
Acting Inspector Travis McCarthy said the technology helped check more than 22,000 vehicles across Wyndham and Brimbank in one day.
“BlueNet is an invaluable tool that helps police check and respond to unauthorised drivers and vehicles faster than ever before.
“It only takes half a second to scan a car as it travels past, and in one shift up to 5000 vehicles can be checked by the BlueNet system.
“We know that unauthorised drivers are over-represented in road trauma. They’re more likely to take risks, drive erratically and put others in harms way.
“Police are committed to doing everything we can to remove these drivers from our roads.”
