Australia: Operation Austrans nets 167 offences

Victoria Police have charged 12 heavy vehicle drivers with possession of amphetamines as part of an annual interstate traffic operation.

Road Safety Task Force Highway Unit officers patrolled Wangaratta and Cobram from May 9 to 13, targeting the activities and behaviour of heavy vehicle drivers.

Task Force Sergeant Allan Tickner said Austrans is conducted by the following jurisdictions each May: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Operation Austrans netted a total of 167 offences, which included log book, illicit drug possession and driving-hours offences.

A 39-year-old Grovedale man was also found to be in possession of a loaded, sawn-off shotgun which had the trigger guard removed and trigger filed down, with no safety mechanism. He has been charged with possessing an unregistered handgun, failing to safely store ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, possessing a firearm without licence, possessing amphetamine and making a false log book entry.

Another driver was found to be in possession of a trafficable quantity of amphetamine, and another driver possessed both amphetamine and cannabis.

“This operation is quite well known throughout the heavy transport industry and yet despite awareness of additional scrutiny at this time of year, we’ve still detected an alarming number of offences,” he said.

About one in seven of heavy vehicle drivers who were pulled over as part of Austrans were detected in possession of illicit drugs.

“Heavy vehicle drivers who use illicit drugs to combat fatigue threaten the safety of all other road users,” Mr Tickner said.

“Driving under the influence of illicit drugs significantly increases the likelihood of a collision. Operations like Austrans are designed to keep Victorian roads safe.”

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tues, 16 May 2006
Source: Victoria Police - Media Release (Australia-Web)
Website: http://www.police.vic.gov.au