The top traffic cop shot to cyber fame in July during Operation Ardent, a road safety campaign targeting Melbourne's worst municipalities for road trauma.

In an Australian policing first, Twitter - the global micro-blogging social networking site - was used to track hoon behaviour and keep drivers informed of police activity.

Victoria Police on Twitter went from 900 followers to more than 4000 during the two-day campaign, which has been held monthly since then.

There are now more than 5200 followers using the site.

"Twitter jumped out as the most relevant platform [to reach younger drivers] during Operation Ardent," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

"Our Twitter account has been set up since December last year; however, it was the Ardent campaign that sent our membership through the roof.

"There's no doubt word got around that police were out and about picking up drivers who refused to obey the law."

On the night, Deputy Commissioner Lay "tweeted": "Sleep soundly, there's less idiots on the roads" and "Two drivers in Berwick blew .06 earlier tonight. Too bad. Licences lost".

He also found himself some cyber-admirers, such as

[scottrdare], who posted: "I've just enjoyed KenLay being a badass on @VictoriaPolice".

The spokeswoman said face-to-face policing would always be more popular.

"However, there's certainly a great opportunity to use the online world to reach an audience that is diverse and constantly on the move."

Victoria Police has a Facebook group with more than 1000 members, a YouTube page and the www.vicpolicenews.com.au site.