Geraldton Traffic Police impound 8 bikes and lay 42 charges during unlicensed motorcycle rider crackdown

Traffic police have laid 42 charges on 7 unlicensed motorcycle riders in a two-month operation cracking down on those committing offences on motorbikes, with more than half the charges given to one man. Following a series of targeted motorcycle pursuits, crashes and investigations, Geraldton Traffic Police impounded a total of eight motorcycles and charged 12 people with 42 offences since March. Police utilised both covert and overt traffic patrols, as well as aerial support such as drones to target repeat offenders. Five unlicensed bikes will be crushed or sold and three licenced bikes held at the police station are to be collected within 28 days. A 19-year-old Woorree man was arrested on six separate occasions and charged with x2 reckless driving to escape pursuit by police, x2 reckless driving, x3 failing to stop, x4 no authority to drive, x4 unlicensed vehicle, x3 using false plates, selling or supplying methamphetamine to another, offering to sell or supplying a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug, possess drug paraphernalia, having ready access to weapons and illegal drugs and drive illicit drug. He was remanded in custody and was due to reappear in court on Thursday, May 25. A 27-year-old Waggrakine man arrested on April 17 was charged with reckless driving, no authority to drive, unlicensed vehicle, possessing a prohibited drug and drive illicit drug. He is due to reappear in court on July 7. A 31-year-old Waggrakine man was charged with reckless driving and found guilty in court on April 27. A 34-year-old Spalding man was arrested on April 18 was charged with no authority to drive, have a BAC over 0.08 and unlicensed vehicle and is due in court on Friday, May 26. A 25-year-old Beachlands man arrested on May 11 was charged with reckless driving to escape pursuit by police, aggravated failing to stop and no authority to drive. He is due in court on June 29. A 14-year-old Rangeway boy arrested on May 20 was charged with no authority to drive and unlicensed vehicle and was summoned to court. He is due in the Geraldton Children’s Court on June 20. A 54-year-old Sunset Beach man arrested on May 21 was charged with no authority to drive, unlicensed vehicle, failing to wear a helmet and allowing passenger to ride without helmet. He was summoned to court. He is due in court on July 7. Geraldton Traffic officer-in-charge Sergeant George Tilbury said traffic police would continue to crack down on those who use motorcycles to commit traffic-, drug- and weapon-related offences. “The community has had a gutful of unlicensed motorcycles being ridden on footpaths, through parks and across verges, endangering pedestrians. Riders are often speeding or driving recklessly and they have no regard for others,” he said. “Police have cracked down on reckless riding by all motorcycle riders, which has resulted in a significant number of charges being preferred.” Reckless driving to escape a police pursuit carries a mandatory minimum imprisonment of six months.