Over 500 drink-drivers caught in Vic

More than 500 Victorian drink drivers have been caught over the Easter break as
police lobby for a double demerit points system.
Victoria Police Superintendent Kevin Casey said 540 drink drivers were caught, which
was significantly higher than previous years.
More than 500 people were also caught using mobile phones, 500 drivers were
disqualified or suspended and 500 were not wearing seatbelts during the blitz, he
said.
Supt Casey said the figures were shameful, given the public was warned police would
be out in force.
"It's frightening that there are drivers amongst us that are willing to put not only
their lives at risk but drivers all around them," he told reporters.
Supt Casey said he would like to see Victoria follow the lead of other states and
introduce double demerit penalties for erring drivers.
He said research carried out in other states had shown there was a high level of
community acceptance for the system.
"The double demerit points will be another tool in the arsenal for police to enforce
road laws in Victoria and that's something that's still yet to be decided by the
relevant people who make those decisions," he said.
So far, Victoria has recorded one death over the Easter period, with a woman dying
when a car smashed into a tree on the Great Ocean Road on Friday.
But Supt Casey said that while road fatalities had been low, a high number of people
had been seriously injured in crashes.
"That also has a ripple effect across the community because some of those people
will be treated for some time to come," he said.
"That's a hidden story in itself."
Supt Casey also urged holiday-makers returning to Melbourne to leave early.