Epping highway patrol is targeting back streets and industrial areas known for meet-ups of drag racers and hoons.
Sergeant John Sybenga says there are increasing numbers of complaints from business owners about illegal street races and the mess they make of local roads.
“It’s not good for business or for visitors,” Sergeant Sybenga said.
But, he said, these predominantly young drivers play “cat and mouse”, disappearing when police mobilise to catch them in the act.
This was highlighted two months ago when a 20-year-old woman, out to watch a street meet at 11pm, was hit by a VL Holden Commodore whose driver fled the area when police arrived.
But Sergeant Sybenga said officers had had better success catching speeding motorists and those affected by drink or drugs.
“We booked 20 drink drivers across two weekends, mainly early on Saturday and Sunday mornings,” he said.
In an incident last week, an 18-year-old Mill Park man had his car impounded after he was caught by Epping highway patrol travelling at 139km/h in a 60km/h section of McDonalds Road. The probationary driver had a passenger in the car at the time of the offence.
His car was impounded for 30 days and he is due to be charged on summons for dangerous speed and exceeding the speed limit.
In another recent incident, a truck driver affected by alcohol was clocked doing 105km/h passing the Thomastown railway station, Sergeant Sybenga said.
He urged motorists to remember the message of Victoria’s “Road to Zero – it starts with you campaign” and warned that police would “saturate” state roads this month and next.
