More than a dozen motorists were caught using mobile devices during a two-day police operation at Ararat this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Operation Dial Tone targeted road users at the red light intersection of High and Vincent Streets, Ararat.
"We observed motorists using their phones and would intercept them further along High Street," First Constable Jill Morgan said.
"We issued 13 tickets over two days, with four of those to drivers in heavy vehicles which was particularly worrying.
"Someone was even using an iPad."
Drivers were issued with infringement notices and whacked with a $496 fine as well as the loss of four demerit points.
First Constable Morgan said the operation was not revenue raising.
"It's not revenue raising at all, it is about making motorists aware it is not safe to use your phone on the roads," she said.
"The road toll is currently at 166, while it was at 109 the same time last year. We will implement proactive policing to do our best and stop that number from growing."
First Constable Morgan said the operation will run again "in due course".
"We only had three members tasked to the operation so I'm sure we would have had more offences detected with more police," she said.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.