OPERATION Night Beatle in Shepparton, conducted by the Highway Patrol between March 30 and April 5, revealed alarming levels of impaired driving. Over the course of the week, 44 roadside drug tests were conducted, with 15 drivers testing positive for illicit substances, roughly one in three.
A 54-year-old man was caught with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, while a 21-year-old was found speeding at 111 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
Stopping and checking 77 vehicles the operation also resulted in:
One disqualified driver detected
Two learner drivers allegedly driving without a fully licensed supervisor
Four vehicles impounded
Eight defect notices issued
24 penalty notices issued for traffic-related offences
22 brief offences detected
Cloned number plates detected and removed from one vehicle
These findings highlight the growing need for stringent enforcement to address impaired and high-risk driving behaviours, which continue to threaten road safety. Police are reminding the public that drug and alcohol testing will remain a focus across the region.
