Tasmania Police officers and transport inspectors randomly checked drivers travelling on Henry Street on Thursday for vehicle compliance, licence checks, defect checks, oral fluid tests and random breath tests. Drug detector dog Fang was also on hand to check vehicles.

Acting Inspector Melissa Death said the operation ran as part of Operation Crossroads, Tasmania Police's festive and holiday season road blitz.

However, she said Tasmania Police took road safety very seriously at all times of the year.

"Tasmania Police is committed to making the roads safer for all motorists, by improving driver behaviour, to reduce crashes on our roads," she said.

"There are fines for disobeying the road rules, but the real penalty could be seriously injuring or killing yourself or someone else in a crash."

The police operation ran from 9am until noon and focused on vehicle compliance and driver checks.

Partway through the operation, acting Inspector Death said several drivers had received defect notices for their vehicles.

She said it was essential drivers made sure they were doing the right thing every time they got behind the wheel of a car, but particularly during the holiday season.

"It's about making sure all road users are compliant, our message to drivers it to be safe, do the right thing and drive to arrive," she said.

Operation Crossroads runs over the festive season, but acting Inspector Death said there would be several police operations run over that period and increased police presence and visibility.