The Highway patrol operation, which ran from Wednesday to Thursday afternoon, executed 27 warrants and saw one person front Ballarat Magistrates Court today.

Ballarat Highway Patrol Sergeant Stuart Gale said the operation was a success, carrying out about a third of outstanding traffic-related warrants in Ballarat.

"Most of these are for failing to appear at court for traffic-related matters and most people are aware they've got outstanding warrants," he said.

Mr Gale said the 11 others arrested - four females and seven males from the Ballarat region - were bailed to reappear at Ballarat Magistrates Court at a later date.

"It's in a person's best interest to surrender themselves rather than have police knock on their door and arrest them on the spot," he said.

Officers made door knock enquiries and would be "following up" the remaining outstanding warrants in the near future, according to Mr Gale.

"It's better if people who know they have outstanding warrants attend and sort the matter with police prior to us taking action," he said.

Mr Gale said the individuals in question were usually repeat offenders.

The arrests follow a highway patrol operation over the Queen's Birthday long weekend, which caught 169 drivers for traffic offences.