By Brendan Rees
Casey Highway Patrol have wasted no time pulling over cars and checking their details as they enforce Melbourne’s second wave of lockdowns.
A number of police officers intercepted vehicles at random on the Princes Highway near the border of Bunyip and Longwarry on Thursday 9 July to ensure motorists were complying with the stage three coronavirus restrictions.
It was one of many booze bus-style checkpoints that have been set up across the state at nine major arterial roads with officers quizzing drivers’ movements.
Officers also used number-plate recognition software to detect vehicles that are registered to owners who live in local government areas currently in lockdown.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said there would also be mobile police vehicles across the state enforcing the Chief Health Officer restrictions for the metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
“The checkpoints will be operational 24 hours a day and will remain in place for the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said hundreds of police officers would be deployed over the six-week lockdown “making sure people are doing the right thing”.
He revealed officers had issued 16 fines to in the first 24 hours on Friday 10 July since stage three restrictions were reintroduced.
This included 16 people caught at a birthday party at a Dandenong home after a fast food outlet raised concerns about receiving an order for a large number of meals.
Mr Patton promised a heavy police presence in “high-volume public places”, with booze buses and road stops checking people.
“People will not know where we will be; they will not know how long we’ll be there for but they will be intercepted,” he said.
“Drivers and passengers can expect and should expect to see us and the strong probability they will be intercepted and asked where they’re going and why they are going there.
“We’ll be speaking to them to make that they are supposed to be out and about … and adhering to the Chief Health Officer’s stay-at-home directions.
“If you think that’s not going to happen to you then it is and we will be fining people … for those who are selfish enough to disregard these warnings.”
Police have so far intercepted 5460 vehicles from 3pm on Thursday 10 July until 7am on Friday 10 July at seven checkpoints on the metropolitan boundary, with 12 people issued fines for breaches.
Meanwhile, the State Government has sought the assistance of the Australian Defence Force. This will see about 264 defence personnel assisting with on-ground operations, focusing on staging areas, planning, logistics and transport. They will also play a key role in monitoring the boundary around metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
Police are also conducting checks at businesses, homes, community locations and non-essential services across the state to ensure directions are being followed. Operation Ribbon and Operation Shielding remain in place.
