January 3rd, 2023Friends who race together, get impounded together

Police were left shaking their heads after two mates began racing each other in front of them in recent days, they report.

Westgate Highway Patrol members had first spotted the two hatchbacks allegedly speeding along Leakes Road in Altona on the evening of December 23.

The officers caught up with the pair on Maidstone Street when they started racing, failing to see the marked police car behind them about 10.50pm.

The vehicles were allegedly clocked doing more than double the speed limit at 135km/h in a 70km/h zone.

The two Tarneit men, aged 22 and 23, had their vehicles impounded for 30 days and police, in recent days, said they could expect to be charged on summons with speeding and street racing offences.

This catch formed part of Operation Roadwise, a state-wide road policing operation during the high-risk Christmas period.

Police had targeted impaired driving, speed, distraction, and fatigue in high-risk areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The operation commenced at 12.01am on Friday, 16 December and concluded at 23.59pm on Tuesday, 27 December.