Bad drivers beware - Western Australian Police have warned they're on the lookout for law-breakers, including among their own ranks.
A Perth police officer is facing a penalty of six demerit points and a $250 fine after being photographed using his mobile phone while driving last Thursday, near the intersection of Canning Highway and Sleat Road in Applecross. Double demerits were in effect for the Easter break.
"It's indicative of the problem we have across the community in terms of mobile phone use," said Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich from the State Traffic Branch.
"It's a problem that transgresses occupation and age. People who drive, who have a mobile phone, have that temptation to use it and unfortunately in this instance it was a serving police officer."
A photograph of the officer, who has since been identified as Senior Sergeant Tony Booker, was among 24 others published on the front page of The West Australian newspaper on Wednesday.
It's understood the officer returned to work at the Perth police station today.
"Some might say it is hypocritical, but he's done what he's done, he's admitted to it and he will now be dealt with in an appropriate way," Assistant Commissioner Anticich said.
Despite strong comments by Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan, and significant media coverage, it seems the message is not getting through.
Last night, police officers caught at least 29 people using their mobile phones while driving.
"During the Easter weekend, we had something in the vicinity of 150 people detected using mobile phones and driving," Assistant Commissioner Anticich said.
"We're starting to see numbers increasing in terms of this kind of offending and I suspect we're most probably just touching the tip of the iceberg."
Police have also taken to social media in a bid to encourage drivers to stay focused on the roads.
A quirky stop-motion video, starring Lego figurines, has been created to highlight the dangers of distracted driving.
Titled 'Billy Weezer the Distracted Geezer', the video was originally posted on YouTube last month, but has gone viral after it was posted to the WA Police Facebook page. It has since been shared more than 500 times.
Double demerits remain in effect until 11.59pm on Sunday.
