A MOTORIST caught talking on the phone during a five-hour police swoop in Warrnambool's CBD said he was taking a call from his partner warning him of the operation.
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"He said he was on the phone because his missus had just called him to let him know there was a phone operation in town," Sergeant Greg Cressell, from the Warrnambool Highway Patrol Unit, said.
The man, one of 26 motorists caught during Operation Oblivious on Friday, was fined $484 and gained four demerit points. Police issued fines worth $14,500 as a result of the sting.
Sergeant Cressell said police issued 36 infringement notices in total for a range of offences including three fines for not wearing a seatbelt, one fine for failing to give way at a red light, a cycling infringement and a number of overtaking offences.
He said the high number of offences, which equated to about one every eight minutes, was alarming.
"When you look at the number of infringements that were issued it's a real concern," Sergeant Cressell said.
"We were only in Liebig Street and Koroit Street - we weren't in Kepler Street and we weren't in Lava Street."
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Sergeant Cressell said the result was disappointing, particularly the high number of people who were using their phones.
"They are putting themselves and others in danger, it's just not worth it," he said.
Sergeant Cressell said there had been a high number of collisions across the state in recent months and driver distraction was a contributing factor.
"People have to take more responsibility for their actions," he said.
Sergeant Cressell said police would continue to target driver behaviour in the CBD, particularly motorists using mobile phones.
"I think it's an impulse - people think they're not going to get caught," he said.
A similar operation in November stretched for two days and 71 infringement notices were issued.
Sergeant Cressall said he hoped to see less distracted drivers on the road as a result of the operation.
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