Binky
01-25-2006, 12:39 PM
Drug bus blitz
By GLEN BERNOTH
January 25, 2006
WARRNAMBOOL'S first visit from the state's controversial drug bus has helped police nab almost 100 drivers for a myriad of offences in less than a fortnight.
The drug bus targeted five different locations in Warrnambool and one at Port Fairy in the four days ending Sunday.
One woman was charged for drug-impaired driving.
On Monday, however, Port Fairy police charged a second person for the same offence, in addition to possessing cannabis, amphetamines and a dangerous article (tomahawk).
Sergeant Gary Bryant of the Warrnambool Traffic Management Unit said the drug bus team also succeeded in catching drivers for a range of other offences.
``It's a self-sufficient package from Melbourne but our officers did attend and assist where required,'' he said.
``What they do is PBT (preliminary breath test) you first, then do the drug test which takes a few minutes to analyse and while that's being done they check people's licence and cars.
``They got five people for drink-driving. The highest reading was 0.173 which is an immediate suspension of licence.
``Other offences detected by the drug bus included one person for possessing a controlled weapon _ some form of knife _ driving while suspended, driving an unregistered car and using an unroadworthy vehicle.''
Sergeant Bryant said the visit from the drug bus followed a blitz in Warrnambool's CBD by the TMU and Corio Regional Traffic Tasking Unit on January 13-14.
``In total 87 persons were detected for numerous things including speeding, not wearing seatbelts, using phones while driving, unregistered cars, unlicensed driving, crossing double lines, making incorrect turn and driving unroadworthy
vehicles,'' he said.
``Of major concern was the number of people not wearing seatbelts.
``Also drink-driving ... and the drug-driving _ two people for that is a concern.''
Sergeant Bryant said the drug bus would return to the region but warned drivers who used drugs and drove they could still be charged by uniform units, as happened at Port Fairy on Monday.
``If officers pull over someone and they believe they are drug-impaired they can take them back to the Warrnambool station to be assessed and charged,'' Sergeant Bryant said.
http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2006/01/25/1138066826722.html
By GLEN BERNOTH
January 25, 2006
WARRNAMBOOL'S first visit from the state's controversial drug bus has helped police nab almost 100 drivers for a myriad of offences in less than a fortnight.
The drug bus targeted five different locations in Warrnambool and one at Port Fairy in the four days ending Sunday.
One woman was charged for drug-impaired driving.
On Monday, however, Port Fairy police charged a second person for the same offence, in addition to possessing cannabis, amphetamines and a dangerous article (tomahawk).
Sergeant Gary Bryant of the Warrnambool Traffic Management Unit said the drug bus team also succeeded in catching drivers for a range of other offences.
``It's a self-sufficient package from Melbourne but our officers did attend and assist where required,'' he said.
``What they do is PBT (preliminary breath test) you first, then do the drug test which takes a few minutes to analyse and while that's being done they check people's licence and cars.
``They got five people for drink-driving. The highest reading was 0.173 which is an immediate suspension of licence.
``Other offences detected by the drug bus included one person for possessing a controlled weapon _ some form of knife _ driving while suspended, driving an unregistered car and using an unroadworthy vehicle.''
Sergeant Bryant said the visit from the drug bus followed a blitz in Warrnambool's CBD by the TMU and Corio Regional Traffic Tasking Unit on January 13-14.
``In total 87 persons were detected for numerous things including speeding, not wearing seatbelts, using phones while driving, unregistered cars, unlicensed driving, crossing double lines, making incorrect turn and driving unroadworthy
vehicles,'' he said.
``Of major concern was the number of people not wearing seatbelts.
``Also drink-driving ... and the drug-driving _ two people for that is a concern.''
Sergeant Bryant said the drug bus would return to the region but warned drivers who used drugs and drove they could still be charged by uniform units, as happened at Port Fairy on Monday.
``If officers pull over someone and they believe they are drug-impaired they can take them back to the Warrnambool station to be assessed and charged,'' Sergeant Bryant said.
http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2006/01/25/1138066826722.html