Police admit they are frustrated by noisy ‘rogue’ motorcyclists in Hobsons Bay, who residents say are turning the area into scenes from The Fast and the Furious.
Senior Constable Josh Stolk, of Westgate highway patrol, said police were conducting operations almost daily, particularly in Altona Meadows, but motorcyclists were making a mockery of the road laws.
He said motorcyclists caught with excessively loud bikes were re-fitting compliant exhaust systems for testing, then switching back.
“If they have changed the exhaust and it then complies, then that is all we can do,” Senior Constable Stolk said.
“Then they can change it back, and we have to see them riding again.
“When people are constantly causing issues for the community and we speak to those people, and they continue to do it and we enforce them, and they still continue to do it – it’s very frustrating for the police.
“We are there nearly on a daily basis in Altona Meadows. They’ve got numerous addresses around, and we target them on a constant basis,” Senior Constable Stolk said.
He would not comment on whether police are constrained by their safe pursuit policy.
A source told Star Weekly that many Harley Davidsons had after-market exhaust systems that were much louder than stock systems, and these did not meet noise emissions standards.
“The noise is part of the appeal of these bikes,” the source said.
“Riders getting caught are issued an infringement notice and have to take the bike in for a noise test.
“They then just bolt the standard exhaust on, take the test and pass, and be on their way. I went through this with my bike years ago.”
An Altona Meadows resident, who asked not to be named, said one of the most commonly identified problem motorcyclists, who wears a Nazi-style helmet and skull bandana, nearly crashed into children on Friday.
“He nearly came a cropper on Roach Drive as the schoolchildren were walking home,” he said. “I have called police numerous times, as have the neighbours, and they have spoken to them and know where they live.”
Another resident in Altona said he witnessed the same rider passing on the left-hand side of vehicles.
Fines for motorcycles that exceed noise levels are $389.
