Motorbikes seized in crackdown

By Tania Martin
POLICE have impounded five motorcycles during a crackdown on dangerous riding.
The Yarra Ranges Traffic Management Unit (TMU) has now warned motorcyclists there is zero tolerance for dangerous driving.
This latest operation, on Sunday 9 and Monday 10 March, recorded more than 51 offences.
Senior Sergeant Steve Rosewarne of Yarra Ranges TMU said the latest results had confirmed that motorcyclists were failing to take their own safety seriously.
“The Yarra Ranges is one of the highest in the state for serious motorcycle collisions every year,” he said.
Snr Sgt Rosewarne said police expected motorcyclists to slow down with an increased police presence but riders were still taking unnecessary risks with their own safety and other road users.
“Unfortunately the results of this operation and others we have held in the area so far this year confirm to us that we need to keep targeting these issues,” he said.
In the latest operation, police handed out a number of penalty notices for a range of offences including speeding 25km/h over the speed limit, dangerous driving, exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit, using fraudulent number plates, and reckless conduct.
Motorcycles impounded by police in this latest operation were intercepted for excessive speeds ranging from 50 to 84km/h over the 100km/h limit.
Since the start of the crackdown in February, the Yarra Ranges TMU has impounded nine motorcycles.
This year 14 motorcyclists have died in Victoria compared to seven at the same time last year.
Snr Sgt Rosewarne said the road toll was a frightening statistic.