Wangaratta police on the ground and on the road will be patrolling the rural city throughout a busy Festival of Jazz and Blues weekend.

With the influx of visitation expected, members will be out and about ensuring responsible behaviour is conducted city wide.

Wangaratta Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant David Gillespie said police would be conducting breath and drug related testing across the rural city, keeping an eye out for impaired driving.

“Expect to find police doing the breath testing anywhere at any time,” he said.

“We want people to ensure they enjoy themselves., but we want people to make sure that if they're going to consume alcohol that they don't get behind the wheel and drive that they have appropriate plans in place.”

Last year a visitor to Wangaratta was caught almost three times the legal drinking limit at a designated breath testing site following the festival.

He received a 14-month driver disqualification and a $650 fine.