Monkey bikes still menacing locals despite tough new laws
Frustrated Victorians are inundating police with thousands of calls about monkey bikes each year despite tough new laws giving authorities the power to impound them on sight.
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Frustrated Victorians are inundating police with thousands of calls about monkey bikes each year despite tough new laws giving authorities the power to impound them on sight.
Victoria Police is receiving about 5000 calls annually about the miniature motorcycle menaces and have warned they will continue to chase those who use them illegally on roads and footpaths.
In 2017, 43 monkey bikes were impounded and Frankston City Council regularly crushes the unregistered vehicles if hoons are found within their catchment.
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“Legislation that came into force on 1 January, 2017, gave us the power to seize and impound monkey bikes if used on a road or a road-related area and if not claimed, they will be destroyed,” Victoria Police spokesman Martin Kay said.
“Monkey bikes have proven to be deadly and it is concerning to police that riders, some as young as teens, continue to engage in this risk-taking behaviour.
“We receive about 5000 calls each year and it is a challenge for police that riders continue to cause trouble zipping around suburbia.”
Tough laws were introduced after authorities spent years trying to rein in the damage done by mini-bikes and their owners.
Mother-of-two Andrea Lehane, 34, died in 2015 after she was hit by a monkey bike at a crossing in Carrum Downs, and sustained serious head injuries.
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The rider of the bike, Caleb Jakobsson, was speeding on his homemade miniature motorcycle at the time of the collision and was later jailed for seven years.
Mr Kay said police were urging anyone who saw the miniature motorcycles on Victorian roads to contact Crimestoppers.
“The bikes are often unregistered, not covered by insurance; riders are often unlicensed, inexperienced and not wearing helmets, so what we are seeing is multiple offending with ultimately unforgiving consequences,” he said.
“Riders of these bikes are riding in parklands and on roads and even on footpaths with disregard for the public and road rules.”
Victoria’s consumer affairs watchdog also monitors the sale of the vehicles and has previously seized and destroyed scores of bikes that did not meet safety standards.