By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
PAKENHAM police are warning drivers to ensure their cars are roadworthy ahead of a new operation launching next week.
Operation Compliance is set to roll out on 14 March and will see Cardinia Highway Patrol target “un-roadworthy and unsafe” vehicles.
Cardinia Highway Patrol Sergeant Allen Inderwisch said he wanted to warn the community about the police blitz before it began, to allow drivers the chance to get their cars in order.
“We want to give people the opportunity to fix their cars before we pull them up,” he told Star News.
As part of Operation Compliance, police will be setting up additional roadblocks and increase patrols at shopping centre car parks and railway station car parks.
Detectives will be closely monitoring the condition of tyres, windscreen wipers, headlights and tail-lights.
“Coming into winter and the bad weather we want to make sure every car is safe,” Sgt Inderwisch said.
“They’re better off doing it now rather than us pulling them up, giving them a defect notice and possibly a fine.”
In August, the Cardinia Highway Patrol received extra funding from the TAC and launched Operation Bunbury, which targeted speed and distraction offences on local roads.
At the time Sgt Inderwisch welcomed the funding, which was used to roster on extra patrol shifts.
“We take road trauma reduction extremely seriously and any measure that we can take is definitely a positive,” he said.
“People should be aware that there will be zero tolerance for drivers caught doing the wrong thing.”
The first three additional shifts for Operation Bunbury saw 81 drivers caught out for offences including exceeding the speed limit, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and driving an unregistered vehicle.
“As long as people continue to flout the law, we’ll continue to pick them up,” Sgt Inderwisch said.
For more information contact the Pakenham Police Station on 5945 2500, or visit www.police.vic.gov.au
