Yarrawonga Sergeant Ted Graham said that Yarrawonga Police now have the capabilities of performing breath and drug tests which they will perform over the festive period while also patrolling for would be perpetrators.
“As well as our Operation Roadwise which will run for 12 days, we are urging businesses to be aware of their stock and be vigilant as much as they are able to as they will have more customers visiting their businesses over the break and some will take an opportunity to steal goods,” Sgt Graham said.
“Last week we had a 60-year-old female walk out of a Yarrawonga business without paying. She was identified, arrested and received a caution.
“The festive season and summer holidays are also the perfect time to reassess businesses CCTV as this helped in the arrest last week and can greatly assist police in catching perpetrators.
“Look out for each other in every setting to stay safe this Christmas and New Years period.”
The 12-day statewide road policing operation, kicked off last Friday and concludes Tuesday, December 27.
Before the weekend the number of lives lost in Victoria had already reached 236, already surpassing last year’s total of 234 and sitting well above the five-year average of 221.
The operation will see police provide highly visible enforcement on Victoria’s major arterial roads and highways in an effort to reduce road trauma and detect dangerous drivers before someone is hurt.
Police intelligence shows there is an increased risk of impaired driving associated with end-of-year work and social functions, with vulnerable road users like pedestrians also deemed at risk, particularly around busy shopping centre precincts.
Last year almost 130,000 motorists were tested for alcohol and drugs during Operation Roadwise, with police anticipating the increase to a 12-day operation this year from 10 days will likely see even more motorists undergoing tests.
With 40 per cent of last year’s Operation Roadwise infringements issued for speeding, police are reminding motorists to keep the foot off the accelerator to avoid a costly Christmas – the penalty for speeding by more than 10km/h but less than 15km/h is $370 and three demerit points, with those exceeding the speed limit by more than 25km/h facing even more significant penalties and a suspended licence.
Mobile phone use continues to be a major contributor to road trauma, with 536 mobile phone infringements issued to drivers during last year’s operation. The penalty for using a mobile phone while driving is $555 and four demerits.
Police are urging motorists not to ignore the warnings around road trauma, with 25 lives lost during December last year.
