POLICE have described a Facebook page that lets drivers know the location of booze buses and covert road patrols in Wyndham as a “slap in the face” to people who have lost loved ones to drink-driving.
The page was set up on May 2 and has almost 3200 “likes” from subscribers, including more than 200 in the past week, who are receiving regular updates.
It also alerts motorists to the location of speed cameras and police performing warrant checks in Wyndham.
Senior police said there were no laws preventing people providing the location of booze buses, but they believed the page promoted drink-driving.
“Clearly, people running this page have never felt the pain of losing a loved one or having someone they know seriously injured because someone thought it was OK to drink and drive,” Wyndham’s Acting Inspector Peter Nichols said.
“It’s concerning that there are people who are willing to promote drink-driving in this manner.”
Acting Inspector Nichols said just because a driver knew where a booze bus was operating, it didn’t mean they were in the clear.
“The deployment of booze buses complements a range of other enforcement tactics designed to detect and remove drink-drivers from our roads. You can be tested any time, anywhere, so don’t take the risk. Don’t drink and drive.”
Some Facebook users have criticised the page, with one asking how its administrators would feel if a drunk or drug-affected driver killed someone in their family.
Administrators responded by saying if people wanted to leave negative feedback, they shouldn’t sign up to the page.
One user thanked the administrators for alerting her to the booze buses’ whereabouts, saying they were “legends” who were doing “good work for the community”.
Another expressed relief a booze bus had let her pass without being tested: “Thank f— they let me through! Go me!”
RoadSafe Westgate chairman Jim Giddings said he was pleased to see the high concentration of police activities being conducted in Wyndham.
“The attitude of these few who have no interest in road safety or the impact their actions are having on other road users and the community is unfortunate,’’ he said. ‘‘The community should not stand for such behaviour.”
Acting Inspector Nichols said a five-day crackdown in May and June had snared 214 driving offenders. These included 42 penalties for mobile phone use and 172 for other offences such as failing to wear a seatbelt, unregistered vehicles and licence breaches.
Wyndham police Eyewatch: facebook.com/eyewatchwyndhampsa
