Bairnsdale Police are reporting a well-behaved crowd on New Year’s Eve.

Police were out in force in Bairnsdale and the Paynesville area, where a few thousand people enjoyed a band and watched the fire- works from the foreshore.

Sergeant John Hodder, from Bairnsdale Police, said “it was an extremely quiet night, everyone was well behaved”.

One female was arrested for being drunk early in the evening.

The hotel in Paynesville was well patronised and en- joyed a trouble-free evening.

Police say Operation Roadwise, which began on December 14 and runs until January 6, is netting several motorists doing the wrong thing on the roads in East Gippsland.

Up until Tuesday night, more than 400 people had been detected for general offences, including not wearing seatbelts, speeding, using mobile phones while driving, unregistered vehicles, unlicensed drivers and disqualified drivers.

Nineteen people had been found to be affected by drugs or alcohol while driving.

A police operation that took place on New Year’s Day in Paynesville on Forge Creek Road saw 250 cars pulled over, one driver testing positive for drugs.

Meanwhile, 400 drivers were preliminary breath tested in Lakes Entrance, however there were no law- breakers.

Police remind the public that those who do indulge in drugs can have residue in their system up to three weeks later.

PICTURED: Jarryd and Lachlan Wilkins, Piper Forsyth, Narelle Mollard, Oscar and Stuart Forsyth Olivia Wilkins, Penny Neven and Clare Wilkins, of Bairnsdale, were among the crowds at Paynesvilleon New Year’s Eve where police were pleased to report the crowd was well-behaved.