Bendigo police are warning of a crackdown after a surge in drug-driving offenses.
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Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Ian Brooks said one in four drivers tested in and around the city over the long weekend returned positive tests.
"That's disgraceful and I just don't understand it... it beggars belief why people would do that," Senior Sergeant Brooks said.
"I have no understanding of why people would be so stupid as to think that taking drugs and driving cars is acceptable – it isn't."
Of 45 random tests held around Bendigo by the Highway Patrol as part of Operation Tribute, 11 were found to have taken illegal drugs.
The Highway Patrol nabbed a total of 15 drivers across central Victoria for drug-driving, compared to four for drink-driving.
An additional 14 people were found to have been driving under the influence of illicit drugs by a drug bus which came to the area from Melbourne.
In total, the Highway Patrol recorded 70 offences in the Bendigo area over the four-day road safety campaign and more than 300 offenses in Central Victoria.
"That was for speeding mostly, but we're still catching people talking on mobile phones, not wearing seat belts...," Senior Sergeant Brooks said.
"These aren't visitors, these are people who live in central Victoria – obviously the message is not getting through.
“Education obviously isn’t working so we’re going to have to turn to straight-out enforcement to get these idiots off our roads.”
The senior sergeant said that, in response the surge in offenses, police would wage future campaigns without providing public notice.
"We're not going to tell people we're coming anymore," he said.
"In future operations we won't advertise we are going to be out there… people will find out after, or during, the campaign.
Despite the concerning trend towards drug-driving, Senior Sergeant Brooks said he was pleased to see a reduction in the number of road accidents.
“The number of serious collisions was significantly down this year, there was only one serious crash and no fatalities,” he said.
“And that is the main thing, that’s why we’re out there, to keep the roads safe.”
