Seven people have breached COVID-19 restrictions on Lara roads in seven days, according to Geelong Highway Patrol Sergeant Megan De Winne.
Officers stopped a Lara P-plater, who was driving to a mate’s house with four teenage passengers, on Elcho Road at 5.35pm on Monday.
Police fined all five $1652 for breaching coronavirus restrictions and fined the driver another $826 for driving an unregistered vehicle.
Last Tuesday, Sergeant De Winne was in an unmarked patrol car when she pulled over another P-plater driving on the wrong side of Forest Road South towards Geelong.
The driver, from Frankston, and his passenger were travelling to visit a friend after purchasing cigarettes, Sergeant De Winne said. Both were fined $1652 each.
“Everyone [caught] breaching these COVID-19 restrictions is getting booked,” Sergeant De Winne said.
“They think they’re invincible or that they won’t spread it, but we’re dealing with something that’s a lot more severe than the common cold.”
Meanwhile, driving offences during the Easter long weekend fell compared to last year as most locals stayed at home, Geelong Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Quick said.
Police recorded 218 offences across Geelong and the Surf Coast from last Thursday to Monday, compared to 266 during the same period last year.
While “people being cooped up at home” was “awful”, COVID-19 restrictions had reduced crashes across Victoria, Senior Sergeant Quick said.
“More people on the roads in a rush to get somewhere does cause more accidents.”
Geelong had just one serious injury crash over the Easter break when two cars collided at South Geelong about 10am on Saturday, Sen Sgt Quick said.
A 25-year-old Condah woman driving a Holden Astra south on Wood Street collided with a Ford Ranger travelling west on Barwon Terrace after failing to give way, he said.
Paramedics took her and a 46-year-old woman driving the Ranger to University Hospital Geelong, Sen Sgt Quick said.
Across Geelong and the Surf Coast, police caught 27 motorists drug- or drink-driving and booked another 181 for other offences such as speeding.
Coronavirus restrictions have prevented police from conducting random breath testing stations.
But with less traffic police were more likely to pull over and test suspicious cars or drivers, Sen Sgt Quick said.
“You’re probably a better chance of being intercepted now than you would have been before.”
