Officers commandeer double-decker to catch Dorset's text-and-drivers
Op Decker found 12 people using their mobile phones during rush hour.
Last updated 21st Feb 2022
A double-decker bus turned police operation is the latest tactic to catch those using their mobile phone behind the wheel.
Op Decker saw police officers use the yellow bus to catch people on their phones as they drive through rush hour traffic.
Being caught out could lead to a £200 fine and 6 points on your licence.
In all, 12 people were caught out during the operation in one morning last week.
But those Police pulled over weren't just found to be on their phones. Three of them had their vehicles seized for driving with no insurance. There were 10 other offences, including driving without a licence, driving with no MOT and driving without tax.
Here's how it all works:
The police bus is just the tip of the iceberg - it's followed by a number of unmarked police cars who pull offenders over within moments of being spotted. the system is so efficient that within 45 minutes the bus had to wait because it had run out of cars to pull people over.
Sergeant Lee Savage is on the No Excuse Enforcement Team. He said:
"It's been very successful, it's led to other offences being identified. It's not purely about the mobile phones.
"We've had vehicles seized for no licence, no insurance. Another vehicle was flagged as stolen.
"It's not worth the risk. It isn't just about that mobile phone use, it's what the consequence is. All the stats say you're four times more likely to be in a collision if you allow yourself to be distracted by a mobile phone."