Perth Police will now be able to man the back streets.

WA Police will now have a new addition to the fleet with customised ‘Mini Booze Buses’. Two smaller and more manoeuvrable booze and drug testing buses will hit the streets of Perth to help catch impaired drivers.

Two Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516 vans have been purpose-built at a cost of $772,000 to replace Breath and Drug Bus 2, which has been in service since 2002.

The vans have undergone a custom fit-out by to specifically meet the needs of the WA Police Force – making the vehicles smaller and more manoeuvrable than the current booze buses.

“These smaller vehicles will be more versatile for our alcohol and drug testing operations and will give police greater flexibility when choosing which roads to set up on.” says Police and Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts.

The deployment of Breath and Drug buses was temporarily suspended during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since booze and drug bus operations recommenced on Saturday June 6, more than 717 drivers have been caught for drink driving and 522 drivers tested positive for an illicit drug.

Michelle Roberts was quite frank in her statement to those who are thinking of getting behind the wheel after drinking, “I hope people will heed the message and if you plan to drink, then make a plan to get home, that doesn’t involve driving yourself.”

“This will further reinforce our anywhere, anytime message.”

Feature image: WA Police

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