Tuesday, December 24, 2013

AUSTRALIA - Unmarked Motorcycle Patrols a First for WA Police

OFF THE WIRE
Tasha Campbell
Source: americanbikertalkradio.com


Australia - WA police have introduced unmarked motorcycles in an attempt to make the roads safer this Christmas. BUSSELTON and Dunsborough residents will see the introduction of unmarked motorcycle patrols by WA police this Christmas holiday period.
The fleet will be deployed on freeways and major roads and will target dangerous driving behaviour associated with fatal and serious injury crashes such as failing to wear a seatbelt and driver inattention.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said the fleet of unmarked bikes would be a first for the state; a unique addition to the traditional Christmas traffic campaign.
"Distracted driving, especially the use of mobile devices, is one of the main causes of road crashes and the offence is particularly difficult for police in marked vehicles to detect," he said.
"Using unmarked motorcycles will provide greater enforcement opportunities and there's also the added deterrent that now any motorcycle could possibly be a police unit."
The Commissioner added that officers would be able to record driver offences on a helmet mounted digital camera.
The trial will run alongside with the 2013 Christmas traffic campaign which will run from midnight on Thursday December 19 through to January 5.
Double demerit points will also be enforced during this time period to combat speeding and drink driving offences.