Hoon hits 200kmh during pursuit

Stuck in 3rd?


Hoon hits 200kmh during pursuit
Matthew Burgess
January 11, 2008


A 33-year-old man has lost his motorcycle for 48 hours after a police
pursuit north of Melbourne today, during which he was clocked at more
than 200 km/h.

The Bundoora man was detected by police from the Epping Traffic
Management Unit travelling 15 km/h above the limit on the
Wallan-Whittlesea Road in Upper Plenty about 11am.

A pursuit ensued when police tried to intercept the man, who reached
speeds of more than 200 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.

The motorcycle was later found to be unregistered, and displaying
another vehicle's number plate. It has since been seized for 48 hours
under the anti-hoon legislation, introduced in the state on July 1,
2006.

The man had made the situation worse by trying to escape, Senior
Constable Thomas Bateman said.

"I believe he panicked because he knew the vehicle was unregistered
and he was going a bit too fast initially," Senior Constable Bateman
said.

"However instead of facing fines of around $700, he is now looking at
a 12 month loss of licence, a 48 hour vehicle impoundment, fines in
the (thousands) plus a fee to get his bike back from impoundment and a
court date in his diary.

"Motorists who choose to behave in this manner present an unacceptable
risk to the community and this is an example of why it simply isn't
worth breaking the law."

The man will be charged with traffic offences.