Drivers hit in clampdown

YARRA Ranges police have charged 65 people two month operation targeting disqualified, suspended and unlicensed drivers.
Operation Enjoin has also led to five vehicles being impounded as well as drivers being caught for 236 other offences, including not wearing seatbelts, using mobile phones, speeding, drink driving and driving an unregistered car.
Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Graeme Rust said it was important for people to be aware that those who didn’t obey the law would get caught.
“We already have 65 drivers charged and five lose their cars, so we’re picking up people on quite a regular basis,” he said.
“The penalties are quite severe – as soon as a driver is convicted, if they get caught a second time, the vehicle can get impounded for 30 days and with three strikes, they say goodbye to the car altogether, as they get their car impounded for 30 days and we make an application to have the magistrate surrender it to the government.
“So if they’re driving a $30,000 to $40,000 car, that’s something they’ve lost and if they’ve got loans, they still have to pay the loan, as well as the fine and dealing with being off the road for a period of time.”
He said those who drive while suspended or disqualified also run the risk of jail time.