Police have caught four drink drivers and two people who refused to undergo tests during an operation at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wangaratta highway patrol Acting Sergeant Patrick Murray said officers were concerned about a recent spike in those driving above the limit.
Police had set up a testing site in Bright on Saturday and caught one repeat offender, and three first time offenders.
Two have been given court attendance notices for refusing to undergo a test.
"We're very alarmed," he said.
"We don't want people to be complacent.
"After a long year for everyone and now that COVID restrictions are eased, we don't want people to become complacent and think this is okay.
"People need to separate the two.
"If you drink, don't think about driving."
N OTHER NEWS
Wangaratta highway patrol members also caught one drug driver on Sunday and three on Thursday.
They also ran an operation in Wangaratta last week which caught 30 people using their phones and a further 19 offences in just two-and-a-half hours.
Plain clothes officers ran the operation in the city's CBD and Acting Sergeant Murray said he was "absolutely horrified that the message is not getting through".
"It's never okay to pick up your phone, whether you're texting, checking messages, checking Snapchat, you just can't do it," he said.
"The holders of probationary licences can't operate a mobile phone at all, even hands-free.
"They should know that."
Drivers face fines of $496 with four demerit points for phone use.
The members also caught a driver with a dog on their lap and a person writing in his notebook, and seatbelt offences.
"The message isn't getting through," he said.
"We'll continue to be out there in force, especially in the lead up to Christmas which is traditionally our busiest time."
