Police eye on forest bike riders

By Melissa Meehan
TRAIL bike riders have received praise for their good behaviour following a joint weekend operation by Victoria Police and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) across state forests.
The operation occurred near Alexandra, Broadford, Marysville, and Toolangi.
Police issued 20 infringement notices, most for unlicensed and unregistered riding, riding off road, riding underage, and other forest-related offences.
DSE Trail Bike Project Officer Felicity Wardlaw said it was encouraging to see that the majority of riders were obeying the law.
“It shows that riders are getting the message that if they are licensed, registered, and stay on the legal road network, they are welcome on public land,” Ms Wardlaw said.
School holidays are busy for forest officers, who have caught children illegally riding trail bikes in forests and parks, Ms Wardlaw said.
“Some parents continue to allow their children to illegally ride their trail bikes on public land.
“So we would like to remind parents that riders without a licence and registration are only permitted to ride on private property.”
DSE, Parks Victoria, and Victoria Police have conducted 14 joint trail bike operations in the Yarra Valley this year.
During that time they have spoken to more than 800 trail bike riders and issued 114 infringement notices in relation to illegal trail bike activity.