Biker charged over 179km/h ride
Anthony Dowsley
17may05
A MOTORBIKE rider carrying his son on the back will be charged with
risking their lives after being intercepted at 179km/h.
A traffic policeman caught two Harley-Davidson riders, one aged 39
and the other 44, on a hand-held radar in a 100km/h zone on the Bass
Highway.
Sen-Constable Paul McLean, who had had to reach 210km/h to chase
down the men, branded them as stupid and a disgrace.
He had to pass one to intercept the other before blocking the road
near Phillip Island at about 5.30pm on Saturday. He said that
although he had lights and sirens on, the riders were reluctant to
pull over, taking about a minute to stop.
The 44-year-old rider had a blood alcohol content of .102, twice the
legal limit.
Both men, who are neighbours from Hampton Park, lost their licences
on the spot.
Sen-Constable McLean, of Bass Coast traffic management unit, said he
was stunned to find the 39-year-old dinking his son at the
third-highest speed he had recorded on the highway. He said the boy
could have been blown from the bike if he stuck his head into open
air.
"This would be in the top 10 most dangerous intercepts I've been
involved in," he said.
"When his pillion passenger got off, I realised it was his son. For
a father to be travelling at that kind of speed with his kid was
very irresponsible."
The father with his son on the pillion will be charged with reckless
conduct endangering life and speeding offences.
The other man will also be charged with speeding offences and
driving over the prescribed alcohol limit.
