Plain-clothed and uniformed officers rode trail bikes as part of the operation. Photo: NSW Police.
A high-visibility police operation targeting illegal trail bike riders across the Illawarra and South Coast has resulted in 20 charges, multiple fines, and the seizure of unregistered bikes.
NSW Police said the two-day blitz, which included POLAir and specialist units riding trail bikes, was just the beginning, warning that future crackdowns were on the way.
Operation Spoiler ran from 13-14 March, and was conducted on high-profile roads and areas identified as high-traffic areas for illegal trail bike riders, including Berkeley, Mount Warrigal, Shellharbour, Bellambi and Nowra.
The focus was on the detection and interception of unregistered trail bikes on the road and general road rule compliance from Bulli to South Nowra.
During the operation, 253 breath tests and 49 drug tests were conducted, with six positive drug detections, four positive alcohol detections, 20 charges laid for criminal and traffic offences, 16 traffic warnings/cautions, 77 traffic infringements issued, 39 exceed speed limit infringements issued, five defects and noise pollution infringements issued and two unregistered trail bikes confiscated.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Inspector Michael Mckechnie said the operation pooled a significant amount of resources across the Illawarra and South Coast to send a strong message to illegal trail bike riders.
“The operation included plain-clothed and uniformed officers on trail bikes, as well as assistance from POLAir and the local police districts and specialist commands to not only detect unregistered trail bike riders but road users not obeying the law,” Inspector McKechnie said.
“Two unregistered trail bikes were seized and positive interactions with the community led to information being passed onto to police, which will assist in future operations.
“This will not be the last of the operations and serves as a warning to people who are continuing to ride unregistered trail bikes on the roads and in public parks, potentially putting road users and community members’ safety at risk.
“Unregistered riders caught doing the wrong thing can face infringements, court attendance notices, and seizure of their bikes.”
During the two-day operation, police were patrolling Bellambi when they sighted an unregistered Yamaha motorcycle on Rothery Road heading towards the soccer fields on 14 March about 8:45 am.
A short time later, officers arrested a 37-year-old man in Cawley Street, Bellambi.
The rider was subjected to a roadside drug test, allegedly returning a positive result for methamphetamine. A sample was sent away for secondary testing and is awaiting results.
His licence was suspended and the bike was seized, with the rider prohibited from driving for 24 hours.
He was issued with an infringement notice for riding an unregistered and uninsured bike, not displaying registration plates and not wearing a helmet. Inquiries are continuing.
In another incident, police were patrolling Northcliff Drive, Warrawong, when they saw a person riding a motorcycle east on the footpath on 14 March about 1:15 pm.
Officers stopped the 17-year-old boy, who was subjected to a roadside test, allegedly returning a positive result to cannabis. A sample was sent away for secondary testing and is awaiting results.
He was issued with a court attendance notice for not being licensed and driving a vehicle on a road. He is to appear in a children’s court on 7 May. Traffic infringement notices were issued for unregistered, uninsured and no-helmet offences.
On 13 March at 11:58 am, police were patrolling Belinda Street, Bomaderry, when they allegedly detected a learner rider travelling on a motorcycle at 87 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
The 18-year-old was pulled over and issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit over 30 km/h and his licence was suspended.
Resources used during the operation included officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Illawarra and South sector, Wollongong, Lake Illawarra and South Coast Police Districts, Youth Command, Southern Region Enforcement Squad, POLAir, the NSW Dog Squad and Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.
