UPDATE, Sunday, 10am: Almost 50 penalty notices were issued by Warrnambool police for drivers using mobile telephones during a two-day Warrnambool central business district blitz.
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Senior Constable Corey Holland, of Warrnambool police highway patrol unit, said during Operation Oblivious on Wednesday and Friday last week that 47 penalty notices being issued in relation to mobile phone use.
"All up 64 offences were detected during the operation, including an unlicensed driver displaying false plates, in an unregistered vehicle, who failed to stop on police direction," he said.
"That driver was spoken to the next day (Thursday) after he was observed driving another different vehicle. As a result both vehicles were impounded at a cost of $1130 each."
Senior Constable Holland said the ticket cost for being detected using a mobile phone while driving was a $496 fine and the loss of four demerit points.
Friday: One unlicensed driver had two cars impounded and about 40 motorists were fined for using mobile phones during a CBD police blitz.
Senior Constable Corey Holland, of Warrnambool police highway patrol unit, said Operation Oblivious, which focused on driver behaviour, produced alarming results on Wednesday and Friday. He said officers were continually amazed at driver offences.
One unlicensed driver had two cars impounded and about 40 motorists were fined for using mobile phones during a CBD police blitz.
Senior Constable Corey Holland, of Warrnambool police highway patrol unit, said Operation Oblivious, which focused on driver behaviour, produced alarming results on Wednesday and Friday. He said officers were continually amazed at driver offences.
"We had hoped there would be better driving behaviour but we are issuing a lot of tickets," he said. "On Wednesday we caught about 20 people on their phones."
Senior Constable Holland said a similar number of offences were detected on Friday morning. One driver was caught using a phone in front of five officers.
"The driver was clearly oblivious to us even though we were wearing all our police kit," he said.
He said a 34-year-old unlicensed Warrnambool driver failed to stop when requested by police about 12.50pm on Wednesday. He was caught unlicensed driving in a second vehicle the following day.
Both cars are being seized and will each attract towing and storage fees of $1130.
The driver is also expected to be charged on summons with unlicensed driving, displaying false registration plates, driving an unregistered car and refusing to pull over when requested by a police member. Senior Constable Holland said he and the other half-dozen officers involved in the operation were dismayed by the number of drivers using their mobile phones.
He said a similar operation was held in May this year and another was planned over summer when the traffic flows peaked in the CBD.
The fine for using a mobile telephone while driving is $496 and four demerit points.
"It's a very clear indication of how serious the offence is. Distraction is a major issue, especially when you're driving in a busy CBD," he said.
"A lot of the drivers being caught are texting or using apps." Officers also targeted failing to wear seat belts.
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