Fawkner Highway Patrol officers kicked off Operation Roadwise targeting drivers travelling along Citylink on and off ramps in Melbourne’s north-west overnight.
Officers targeted drink and drug drivers on ramps between Bulla Road and the Bolte Bridge, including Bell Street, Brunswick Road, Mt Alexander Road and Pascoe Vale Road.
Highway patrol officers together with police from the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section tested 1700 motorists between 8pm and 3am.
Citylink also provided support with the management of traffic.
A total of 11 drink drivers were nabbed along with one drug driver and five cars were impounded for suspended and unlicensed driving.
A man received an infringement notice for offensive behaviour after he was caught urinating into a bin used by officers.
Fawkner Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Pickering said there appears to be a misconception that you won’t be tested while driving on freeways.
“The amount of people expressing their surprise at our presence on the ramps was high,” A/S/Sgt Pickering said
“It is frustrating that people still choose to drink drive and the results indicate a need to do this type of testing.
This operation forms part of Operation Roadwise, a state-wide focus on keeping our community safe on the roads during the Christmas and New Year period.
The 24-day operation aims to reduce road trauma, including injuries and the number of lives lost on our roads.
During the festive period, motorists can expect to be breath tested, drug tested, and have their vehicles scanned and speed-checked by police to ensure everyone returns home to their loved ones safely this Christmas and New Year.
Operation Roadwise involves all available personnel including local road policing units, general duties, other operational policing units and centralised resources from Road Policing Command.
The operation runs from 12.01am Friday 13 December to 11.59pm Sunday 5 January.
