Big police blitz kicks off

By Jade Lawton
POLICE will saturate Cardinia Shire’s roads this long weekend to ensure holidaymakers arrive at their destination safe and sound.
Sergeant Nigel Atkins, of Cardinia’s Traffic Management Unit, said Operation Aegis would use every available resource from 3pm Thursday to midnight Sunday.
The operation will target speed, drink and drug drivers, unroadworthy vehicles and traffic offences.
Sgt Atkins said he hoped motorists would observe the safe driving message, although a booze bus operation last weekend, which nabbed six locals driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, proved some were still flouting road laws.
“It won’t just be the Traffic Management Unit – it will be every available police car, motorcycle,” he said.
The TMU set-up a booze and drug testing bus at Princes Highway near Racecourse Road on Saturday night – the same location as last Saturday.
Five people were charged with exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol, while one motorist was found to have amphetamines in his system.
Sgt Atkins said it was disappointing that the majority of those charged were local Pakenham residents.
“They have been warned – do not become victim to Operation Aegis,” he said.