A Newstead man has been fined for high-range speeding after being caught travelling at nearly double the speed limit in the Launceston CBD on Friday night.
In a media release, Tasmania Police said officers from Northern Road Policing Services were conducting a targeted operation focusing on hooning on Friday, 19 June. Just after 10 pm, police intercepted a white Volkswagen Golf R on George Street.
The driver, a 40-year-old man from Newstead, was detected travelling at 77 km/h in a signed 40 km/h zone, according to the police statement. It was raining at the time of the incident.
Tasmania Police confirmed the man was issued with a fine of $615 and received five demerit points. Police noted that the detected speed was only one kilometre per hour below the threshold for an automatic three-month licence disqualification.
The interception was part of a deliberate police focus on anti-social driving behaviour, often referred to as hooning, within the central Launceston area.
In their release, police reminded motorists to always obey speed limits and to drive according to the prevailing conditions. The statement served as a warning that police patrols can be anywhere, urging drivers to act responsibly to ensure the safety of all road users. The original media release can be found on the Tasmania Police website.