News

Grand final blitz hits Rochy roads

By Ivy Jensen

Sep 25, 2026

Campaspe Highway Patrol will be targeting drink and drug driving, speeding and other dangerous behaviour on the roads as part of Operation Scoreboard this weekend. Photo by contributed

Rochester’s dangerous drivers are in the sights of police as officers flood local roads for the AFL Grand Final long weekend.

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Police have warned motorists to expect to be tested, with Campaspe Highway Patrol joining a four-day statewide road blitz under Operation Scoreboard.

It comes after Rochester police arrested and charged a man for unlicensed driving and refusing a roadside test earlier this week, before impounded his car.

Campaspe Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Joseph McKeown said police would be out and about across the district, with the long weekend coinciding with school holidays and increased traffic heading to regional destinations.

“There is no excuse for drink and drug driving over the AFL Grand Final long weekend,” he said.

“Enjoy the long weekend and the festivities, but please plan ahead. Leave the car at home, arrange a designated driver or use alternative transport options.”

The crackdown comes as statewide figures reveal 983 motorists have been caught drink or drug driving over the AFL Grand Final long weekend since 2022.

Of those, 571 were detected over the alcohol limit and 412 returned a positive roadside drug test. Last year alone, 156 motorists were caught drink driving and another 100 were detected drug driving.

The Grand Final Day Saturday has proven the danger period, with drink drivers most commonly caught between 4pm and 2am and drug drivers between midday and 10pm.