Victoria Police’s futuristic BlueNet patrol cars are helping to get dangerous drivers off our roads – scanning up to 2500 number plates every hour to detect lawbreakers and keep other road users safe.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville today joined Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer for a ride in the high-tech patrol car, which is catching unlicensed drivers as well as targeting unregistered and stolen vehicles.
The BlueNet vehicles are part of the police arsenal to prevent road trauma and reduce the number of lives lost on our roads.
Since the cars were first introduced in late 2012, they have scanned more than 11 million vehicles and issued more than 33,000 infringements.
The cars help police identify unregistered, unlicensed or suspended drivers, stolen vehicles and number plates, drivers with outstanding warrants or unpaid fines, and the city’s wanted criminals.
With cameras mounted on the car, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology can scan thousands of number plates in an hour, immediately alerting police to suspect drivers or known crooks.
Six BlueNet vehicles are currently operating across Brimbank, Frankston, Fawkner, Casey, Nunawading and Bendigo.
The high-tech cars are an important part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy, which continues to target unregistered and unlicensed drivers who pose a significant risk to other road users.
After a horror year on Victoria’s roads, the Labor Government recently announced additional funding to increase enforcement over the high-risk spring and Christmas period – with 1000 additional police shifts between now and the end of the year.
The Government has spent a record $1.1 billion over five years to reduce the number of deaths of our roads and make Victorian roads safer.
The $596 million Public Safety Package announced in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 is also funding additional police and technology to bolster a force for the future.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“BlueNet patrol cars are getting unlicensed and unregistered drivers off the road so they can’t put themselves or other motorists in harm’s way.”
“We have lost a record number of lives on Victoria’s roads this year – and we need to turn this around.”
“The Andrews Labor Government continues to invest to make our roads safer through stronger enforcement, better road networks and new safety initiatives.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020