Operation Pin Ball Sees Vic Police Catch Over 1100 Seatbelt Offenders

Operation Pin Ball, a Victoria Police campaign that coincides with the 40th anniversary of vehicle restraint legislation in Australia, has seen 1124 drivers caught without a seatbelt fastened since last Wednesday.

These statistics include 955 drivers, 141 passengers and 28 non-restrained children that have been caught since the operation commenced around Melbourne, Casey, Monash, Geelong, Yarra Ranges, Boroondara, Hume, Brimbank, Moreland and Dandenong.

Other offences detected during the Operation include:

• 149 drink driving offences from 31300 breath tests - a strike rate of 1 in every 210 drivers
• 17 drug test offences from 211 Roadside Drug Tests - a strike rate of 1 in every 12 drivers
• 2376 speeding offences
• 1349 mobile phone offences
• 601 disobey signs/signals
• 158 disqualified drivers
• 308 unlicensed drivers

Running until August 14, the operation is targeting high-risk road trauma areas.

Motorists, passengers and unrestrained children are a key focus of the operation, along with the Transport and Heavy Vehicle industry.

Motorists caught driving without a seatbelt will cop a $239 fine and lose three demerit points. Passengers will also face a $239 fine if found travelling without a seatbelt.

“Wearing a seatbelt is one of the easiest things people can do to protect themselves and their families on the roads," Deputy Commissioner for Road Policing, Ken Lay said.

“That is why it is so incredibly frustrating for police when we continually catch motorists without seatbelts. There is no excuse for this and over the next two weeks we will be strongly focusing our efforts on seatbelt enforcement and awareness."

Victoria's road toll for 2010 currently stands at 199, up from 181 for the same period last year.