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Thames Valley Police teamed up with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to carry out a road safety check in the Dorchester and Berinsfield area of Oxfordshire last night (12/5). The check was carried out after complaints from local residents about some motorcyclists riding anti-socially and causing noise nuisance. Last night there were approximately 400 motorcyclists in the vicinity of Fox's Diner at Dorchester-on-Thames, a regular meeting place for them. The check focused predominately on these motorcyclists however a number of cars were also stopped. Officers from the Roads Policing Department and VOSA stopped 110 vehicles on the A415 in Burcot and the A4074 in Shillingford. As a result of the checks a total of 31 offences were identified and dealt with: • A 55-year-old man from Reading was arrested and charged with driving when above the legal alcohol limit. He has been bailed to appear at Didcot Magistrates' Court on 29 May.
• 11 motorcycles and one car were given prohibition notices for a number of different construction and use offences
• One vehicle was seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act for no insurance or license.
• Two £30 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were given for not wearing a seatbelt, one £60 FPN with three penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving and five FPNs of £30 for non-conforming registration plates.
• Four Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme notices issued, which gives the driver 14 days to rectify a fault on their vehicle.
• One rider will be summonsed for document offences and another for anti-social riding.
• Three verbal warnings were also given for exhaust defects. Insp Paul Winks, Head of Roads Policing in Oxfordshire, said: "This is an excellent example of partnership working in support of the wishes of the local community. We do not want bikers to feel we are targeting them unfairly, but when such a large group of them gather on a regular basis, this can cause problems for local residents when they are ridden excessively fast and/or are fitted with noisy exhausts. "I believe the check yesterday had a positive effect on riders and hopefully made them think about the effect their riding may have on the community and also about their own safety when riding their bikes. Thames Valley Police fully support the Safer Rider scheme, and riders can find more information and tips at the website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/roads/safer-rider/index.htm. We are also redesigning the website at present, and would welcome any suggestions from motorcyclists on how to improve the site." News Source:
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk |
