Orana mid-western police have hailed a recent traffic blitz operation in Wellington a success and say they will continue to randomly conduct them because the community are "sick and tired" of criminals getting around the town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wellington Police were out in force in the early hours on June 5 conducting the operation where more than $4000 traffic fines were issued.
In one case a learner driver was stopped and checks revealed that the driver was being supervised by a male on a P1 provisional license and that it had been cancelled.
Orana Mid-Western Police District Inspector Dan Skelly said was an "absolute success" and they will continue to hold these operations continuously and at random times so criminal cannot pick the pattern.
"We recognise that the community of Wellington and the police that are here, are just sick and tired of criminals getting around the town at all hours of the morning usually driving un-road worthy, usually committing traffic offences," he said.
ALSO MAKING NEWS: Brett Thompson scores a winning double at Wellington Jockey Club
"Approximately $4300 worth of tickets issued in one night is a significant amount of offences detected."
The time when criminals thought they knew police patters and could safely come into the town after a certain time and commit crimes has come to an end, Inspector Skelly said.
"They will be very surprised because I'm going to have police in town at all hours in marked and unmarked cars, at different starting and finishing times," he said.
Inspector Skelly said under the motor traffic act police stop people for the purposes of a random breath test which can lead to other things they need to know about the driver or persons in the vehicle at the time.
Other offences that occurred on June 5 included the use of unregistered vehicles and use uninsured vehicles.
Inspector Skelly said it was important police detect the use of an unregistered or uninsured vehicle for the safety of others.
No drivers were detected with alcohol in their system, which Inspector Kelly said was a pleasing thing.
"We realise that probably most cars, if not all cars, we stop in Wellington during those times of the morning when licensed premises are being closed for some time that they're either passing through or they're up to no good," he said.
Inspector Kelly would like all drivers in Wellington and around the state to adhere to the road rules.
That included driving responsibly, to have a Plan B if they do decide to have a drink, wear a seatbelt, drive to road conditions and the speed limit and do not overtake unless it is absolutely safe to do so.
"We want them to go away, have a good time and come back in one piece," he said.
Most road accidents occur within 10 kilometres from someones home, Inspector Kelly said.
"There is no doubt that people need to know that every police car is a breath testing station and a random drug testing station," he said.
Any police officer can subject a driver to a random road side breath test or random drug test, Inspector Kelly said.
"They might get away with it once, they might get away with it twice but ultimately they will be detected and hopefully they will be detected before they kill themselves or kill someone else," he said.