Lake Illawarra police are cracking down on illegal trail bike riding and they need residents' help to identify where the riders live.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Illegal riding is an ongoing battle for police and as part of the blitz, officers in the trail bike unit are promising to use the full force of the law against riders.
That could include fines worth nearly $2500.
Sergeant Peter Northey said police had received many complaints and phone calls from residents in recent weeks about trail bike riders hooning through public streets and reserves.
"We are obviously concerned with the number of reports coming through to us," the community safety officer said.
"If there are unregistered bike riders on the road or in unauthorised places then we want to know about it.
"We need to know from residents which houses the riders are going to and coming from.
"Then we can target them in other ways or do more proactive patrols in the area."
Sgt Northey said part of the challenge was catching riders as there no regular time the hoons, which ranged from teens to adults, were riding through suburbs.
"Our aim is to reduce road trauma," he said. "If the bike is not registered then there is no insurance and the rider can injure themselves or someone else.
"Riders can also be committing traffic offences which we obviously want to stop."
Sgt Northey said police received calls saying trail bike riders were in nearly every suburb in the Lake Illawarra district.
He has asked residents to be proactive and call the police station as soon as they saw illegal riding.
Lake Illawarra police has a trail bike unit which targets riders doing the wrong thing and the officers will be out in force across summer.
"If we get a call about illegal riders then the officers from the unit are usually the first responders," Sgt Northey said.
"On their bikes, they can access most areas police cars can't get to.
"They can go onto reserves and enforce the laws."
Sgt Northey said riders would usually receive a warning, then an infringement notice of a $686 fine for riding an unregistered bike on the road, another $686 for not paying road tax and a further $686 for using an uninsured motorcycle.
Plus $344 and three demerit points for riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
They can also receive a ticket for riding on council owned-property or private land.
"If they are repeat offenders then the rider can be arrested and charged," Sgt Northey said.
Residents should contact Lake Illawarra Police Station on 4232 5599.