A crackdown on bad drivers by the Bermuda Police Service has resulted in 219 traffic tickets in a week.

Martin Weekes, the Assistant Commissioner of Police said: “With the advent of ‘Operation Vega’ the new Roads Policing Initiative launched one week ago, 219 traffic tickets have been issued and nine stolen bikes recovered.

“Of those 219 tickets issued, the biggest numbers were for speeding offences (41), and for disobeying traffic signs (23).”

One motorist was reportedly stopped for speeding after they were recorded travelling at 109kph.

In the last week police also arrested five people on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Other tickets were handed out for driving without due care, riding a motorcycle with an unfastened helmet, using mobile phones while driving, driving while disqualified and driving unlicensed or uninsured vehicles.

A police spokesman warned that police will also crack down on vehicles with illegal custom licence plates.

The spokesman said: “Owners of vehicles with illegal license plates, run the risk of having their vehicles impounded until correct plates are put on.

“Failure to do so may result in the vehicle license being withdrawn requiring a re-test.”

Licence plates must have a white reflective background with black markings, with the exception of loaner vehicles which have a yellow background and rental vehicles, which have red markings.

The spokesman added: “The aim of Operation Vega is not to be punitive, but rather to encourage drivers to adhere to the regulations governing the use of our roads as we all work together to reduce the incidence of overall road traffic collisions, but specifically collisions resulting in serious or critical injury and most importantly, road traffic fatalities.”