BUTTERWORTH: The police in Penang are taking a different approach to combat the menace of illegal street racing in the state. A police source said instead of carrying out standard patrols and putting up roadblocks, an “investigation diary” or ID would be adopted to deal with illegal street racers.
“With the ID, police will zoom in on illegal races and detain the suspects once the race is over,” the source briefly said.
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He said there was a fair amount of danger to both the racers and policemen in the process of nabbing the racers while travelling at breakneck speeds.
Instead, special cameras will record them in the act and after they are caught, the photos and video footage will be used as evidence against them in court.
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The source added that since the last illegal race in Penang on July 17 along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near Penang Bridge, police have not detected any more illegal races.
“Either the racers are scared or they have found far-off places in order to evade us,” the source added.
During the illegal race on July 17, four motorcyclists were killed – three on the spot – and three others were injured. The fourth man died at Penang Hospital.
Yesterday morning, some 75 motorcyclists were issued with summonses during an operation dubbed Ops Lejang on Penang Bridge’s motorcycle lane at the mainland toll plaza.
State Road Transport Department operations chief Romli Che Abdullah said the operation was conducted by state JPJ and other enforcement agencies.
“The summonses issued were for various offences, including riding without a valid licence, no insurance coverage and illegal modifications,” he said.
The two-and-a-half-hour joint operation began at 10am and involved the police, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Immigration Department, and PLUS Bhd personnel.
During the operation, some 150 motorcycles were screened and 12 were seized for not having valid road tax and insurance, said Romli.
“Two of the motorcycles seized belonged to two foreigners who do not have a valid licence,” he said.
Romli said the operation was mainly aimed at monitoring modifications on motorcycles that increase their maximum speeds.
Five motorcyclists were detained by AADK after their urine test came out positive for drugs. They were detained under Section 3(1) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, Amendment 1988.
A total of 20 motorcyclists were randomly selected to do urine tests during the operation.
In Balik Pulau, three motorcyclists doing stunts were caught yesterday during an operation dubbed Ops Samseng Jalanan at Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Kamarul Rizal Jenal said the motorcyclists aged between 19 and 36 were arrested near the Seagate factory during the operation from 1am to 7pm.
“They were doing the ‘superman’ stunt, lying flat on their bellies on their motorcycle seats and speeding,” he said in a statement.
He said the suspects were arrested under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and 11 summonses were issued.
Five motorcycles were confiscated and eight other motorcyclists were issued summonses for various offences.
