Brisbane police target speeding and lane filtering riders

Brisbane police say they will keep cracking down on dangerous motorcycle riding after motorcycle awareness month ends, detailing recent offences at Richlands and Macgregor and a Loganholme arrest.

Police say riders across the region continue to be detected speeding, unlawfully lane filtering, crossing double lines, driving without due care and operating their motorcycles dangerously. They say motorcyclists remain overrepresented in crash statistics and offences, and have less protection than people in a vehicle if involved in a crash.

Police reminded riders that lane filtering is legal only in specific circumstances. Riders must not filter at speeds above 30km/h, through school zones, or if they do not hold a full licence.

In one recent detection, a Mount Ommaney Highway Patrol officer allegedly saw a P plater motorcyclist unlawfully lane filtering on the Centenary Highway near Richlands. The 22-year-old male rider was issued three infringement notices: unlawful edge filtering ($518 fine and three demerit points), crossing continuous lines beside a painted island ($310 fine and three demerit points), and crossing continuous lines dividing lanes on a multi-lane road ($138 fine).

In an earlier incident, an Upper Mount Gravatt Highway Patrol officer detected two motorcycles allegedly speeding on the Pacific Motorway at Macgregor. The officer intercepted the black Kawasaki rider, a 25-year-old Beenleigh woman, who was issued two infringement notices totalling $690 in fines and four demerit points. Police allege the red Suzuki rider dangerously operated his motorcycle to speed away.

Following investigations, police executed a search warrant at a Loganholme address the next day and arrested a 32-year-old Loganholme man. He was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving without a licence, possessing items purporting to be registration certificates or number plates, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving an uninsured vehicle. He first appeared in Holland Park Magistrates Court on 30 October.

South Brisbane District Inspector Mat Kelly said: "Whilst motorcycle awareness month is coming to an end, police enforcement action isn't. Your life and the lives of other road users is too important to us to not continue to take strong enforcement action against dangerous driving behaviours of this nature."

Inspector Kelly said riders should expect static and roaming enforcement, and thorough investigations of those who fail to stop when directed by police.