More than 160 unregistered, unlicensed and disqualified drivers were caught in a single-day police sting across Wyndham and Brimbank last week.
Westgate road policing adviser 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 on Tuesday across both municipalities and followed by highway patrol cars for Operation BlueNet.
BlueNet cars can rapidly scan number plates using cameras mounted on their exteriors, which alert police to illegal drivers or vehicles of interest.
Police also operated static automatic number plate recognition sites along Duncans Road, the Princes Highway and Old Geelong Road, as well as three roads in Brimbank.
Police pulled over 76 unregistered vehicles, 37 unlicensed drivers, 17 disqualified or suspended drivers, 14 unaccompanied learner drivers, five speeding drivers, five drivers for mobile phone infringements, three for seatbelt infringements, three drugged drivers and one drink-driver.
Two cars were impounded.
Senior Sergeant Madden said the Operation BlueNet tally was disappointing, particularly the two offenders caught in a stolen vehicle and the numerous learner drivers travelling without supervision.
He said the Ravenhall prison riot had taken many Brimbank resources away from the operation, which affected the final tally, but Wyndham resources were largely unaffected by the remand centre riot.
Acting Inspector Travis McCarthy said the technology had 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 takes only 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 … police are committed to doing everything we can.”
