Senior Constable Chris Tetof and Senior Constable Allen Inderwisch from Casey Highway Patrol crack down on dangerous drivers in Casey, one of the state’s worst areas for road trauma. 50901Picture: Kim Cartmell
THERE were tears … but no mercy.
The 36-year-old woman has been caught talking on her mobile phone while driving – and a story about bad news from her doctor cuts no ice with the police who have pulled her over.
It’s time to face roadside justice at the hands of Senior Constables Allen Inderwisch and Chris Tetof from Casey Highway Patrol.
After checking the woman’s licence, it turned out she had been fined earlier this year for the same offence.
Some people never learn.
Catching speeding drivers and cracking down on motorists not wearing seatbelts is all in a day’s work for Casey traffic police.
The officers hit the school zones, discreetly setting up on a quiet side street in Cranbourne.
Within a couple of minutes they catch a driver not wearing a seatbelt – with his two children following his example.
The fine is severe – $237 for him and $237 for each of his children. Then there’s the nine demerit points off his licence – at most, he’ll have just three points left for the next three years.
Sen Const Inderwisch is appalled at the man’s behaviour.
“It’s disappointing to catch drivers not wearing a seatbelt, but in particular when children are unrestrained. He’s not setting a very good example,” he said.
Motorists driving while talking on mobile phones is a major issue for police in the City of Casey.
The police officers surprise a driver by pulling up next to him while he’s talking on his mobile phone. The look on his face is priceless.
The 43-year-old from Wheelers Hill said he was speaking to his boss. That’ll be $239.
“We’ve had fatalities in the area which have been caused by distractions with mobile phones. People just don’t care. There’s a real lack of concern for road safety,” Sen Const Tetof said.
Traffic police can spot a motorist or a passenger not wearing a seatbelt from a mile away – literally. Some would say they just have the eye for it.
And it can run in the family … Sen Const Tetof admitted that his children could now point out people not wearing seatbelts.
A truck driver travelling along Clyde Road comes under the microscope.
At first glance they believe the driver isn’t wearing a seatbelt. They’re right – and he’s talking on a mobile phone as well.
They pull him over in what they call the ‘ripple effect’ … one car traps him from the front while the other pulls in from behind.
The 55-year-old has nowhere to go and admits to police that he never wears a seatbelt. Two fines are issued.
The unmarked police car prowls the Clyde Road and Princes Freeway intersection in Berwick, the number one black spot area for police in Casey.
And it’s no surprise that a driver gets nabbed in the black spot area. This time, it’s for throwing a cigarette butt out the window.
Another licence check, and police discover the 20-year-old Dandenong man had never had a driver’s licence.
To top things off, his employer was driving behind him and also didn’t realise he didn’t have a licence.
He was fined for littering and driving while unlicensed.
Sen Const Tetof said there was more to driving than just steering. Sen Const Inderwisch is just pleased to get this moving violation off the road.
Casey Highway Patrol issued 24 fines during the eight-hour shift last week.
It was just another day at the office.
