by Luke Voogt
A man speeding at 182km/h for KFC and a Chinese tourist driving 150km/h with unrestrained children were among dozens busted over the long weekend.
Police caught a 41-year-old Torquay man allegedly driving at 182km/h towards Geelong on Surf Coast Hwy about 9.50pm on Sunday, Geelong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Rod Stormonth said.
The man was driving his friend’s car in the 100km/h zone and told police he had been heading towards Kentucky Fried Chicken, Sen Sgt Stormonth alleged.
“He was on his way to get some dinner in his mate’s car,” he said.
“Obviously we hear some pretty lame excuses when we intercept people for speeding but this is one of the lamer ones.”
A small error at that speed could have easily ended in tragedy, Sen Sgt Stormonth said.
“The police member was shocked at his justification. I can’t really think of any reason to justify those sorts of speeds.”
Police fined the man “in excess of $1000” and impounded the car for 30 days, he said.
“He had to go home and explain to his mate why he had that car impounded,” Sen Sgt Stormonth said.
The man will face court at a later date.
On Saturday morning police clocked a Chinese tourist allegedly driving a rental car at 150km/h in a 100km/h zone with unrestrained kids near Moriac.
The 39-year-old man was driving with six family members, including a three-year-old on another passenger’s lap and a six-year-old without their seatbelt on.
“Besides the speed, having two unrestrained children in the back, that’s a recipe for disaster,” Sen Sgt Stormonth said.
Police issued the man multiple tickets including an $826 speeding fine and suspended his licence for one year.
The family had been driving along Princes Hwy to Port Campbell, according to police.
Meanwhile, police caught four motorists drink-driving in 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon on Anglesea Rd, Waurn Pounds, Sen Sgt Stormonth said.
One of the drivers, a Geelong man, blew .146 at the breath-testing site set up on the arterial road, he said.
Police caught a 60-year-old Geelong man at Breakwater with a blood alcohol reading of .15 on Sunday during Operation Amity over the long weekend, Sen Sgt Stormonth said.
Operation Amity
Geelong offences:
2 drink drivers
3 drug drivers
2 disqualified drivers
6 unlicensed drivers
37 speeding offences
5 disobey signs/signals
3 seatbelt offences
1 mobile phone offence
7 unregistered vehicles
2 impoundments
0 cyclist offences
Surf Coast offences:
13 drink drivers
1 drug drivers
1 disqualified driver
0 unlicensed drivers
27 speeding offences
6 disobey signs/signals
5 seatbelt offences
2 mobile phone offences
3 unregistered vehicles
0 impoundments
0 cyclist offences
