Cops powerless on dirt bike kids

Hamish Heard
Authorities are powerless to stop groups of children on dirt bikes as they wreak havoc in public areas throughout Geelong, according to police.
Traffic Management Unit Senior Sergeant Shane Coles said it was only a matter of time before a young dirt biker was seriously injured or killed while riding illegally.
“The policy is we can’t chase them in cars, so basically when we’re called to an area after a complaint is made they just take off on us,” he said.
But Sen Sgt Coles revealed that local police were planning a two-wheeled blitz on illicit riding, with operations involving Geelong and Melbourne officers on trail bikes to target hotspots in outer suburbs.
He said Geelong bypass reserves at Corio and Waurn Ponds and council reserves in Plantation Road, Corio, and Whittington’s Solar Drive were the worst trouble areas.
“Just last week in Whittington there was an elderly woman walking along with a baby and she was nearly struck down by one of these idiots,” Sen Sgt Coles said.
“We know who some of them are, so we’ll be targeting them.”
Sen Sgt Coles said Geelong police had appealed to force command for officers from the Special Solo Unit’s trail bike division to come down from Melbourne and join the blitz.
“We’re also in talks with council about borrowing their road-trail bikes so our qualified (motorcycle) officers can flush them out,” Sen Sgt Coles said.
He blamed a flood of cheap dirt bikes onto Australian markets for a rise in illegal riding on council reserves and public roads throughout the city.
“If parents feel they have to buy their kids a bike then they have to take responsibility and ensure they’re only ridden legally and that means on private property with the property owner’s permission,” he said.
“These kids are only 10 or 12 years old and they’re flying around like lunatics.”
Sen Sgt Coles said police would issue fines of up to $1100 to people caught riding illegally.
“And if the child is riding on a reserve or on the road and something serious happens there’s a possibility the parents will be charged,” he said.