Motorcyclist caught speeding by police eye in the sky

It’s not just cameras and police vans catching lead-footed motorists, with a motorcyclist stunned at the unexpected way he was nabbed speeding on the Gold Coast.

The man was caught doing 170km/h on the M1 on Helensvale. File photo: Regi Varghese

A QUEENSLAND motorcyclist says he was stunned when he received a speeding ticket after he was caught speeding by the Queensland Police helicopter PolAir.

The rider - who didn’t want to be named - said he had no idea he’d been caught until a police car arrived at his work some time after the offence.

“I was on my way to work when I had to pelt back home because I’d forgotten something,” he said.

“Then I got to work and the cops turned up.”

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He said he was initially confused as to how he’d been caught.

“I usually keep an eye out for speed cameras and I was like, ‘have I passed a cop or something?’”

The motorcyclist said the officers asked if it had been him on the highway.

Queensland Police Service helicopter PolAir. Picture: Jack Tran.

“I said it was. I wasn’t going to deny it,” he said.

“They said PolAir pinged me.”

The rider received a ticket for travelling at 170km/h in a 110km/h zone along the Pacific Motorway at Helensvale.

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“I’ve never heard of this happening. I was actually quite shocked,” he said.

“I didn’t hear the chopper at all. I’ve been riding for three years and I’ve never heard of this.”

The rider - who said he’s never had a ticket - is now facing a six month disqualification, the loss of eight points, and a $1200 fine.

A QPS spokesperson said the use of PolAir is an important tool in identifying and monitoring target or stolen motor vehicles.

“The deployment of PolAir is undertaken on a tactical basis and is not utilised or deployed for speed detection or enforcement purposes,” she said.

“PolAir Tactical Flight Officers observe vehicles and on occasions where high speeds and the driving behaviour is identified as endangering other road users, PolAir will record the driving behaviour and refer the matter to a frontline officer for evidentiary and prosecution purposes.”

Originally published as Motorcyclist caught speeding by police eye in the sky