Officers using unmarked bikes to tackle speeding motorcyclists

As part of their summer motorcycle campaign, Operation Caesar, Cheshire police is warning motorcyclists that they risk receiving heavy penalties if they speed on Cheshire roads after the introduction of unmarked police bikes.

The new bikes are equipped with four cameras which record the view from the front, rear and side of the bike as well as the speed it is travelling at.

Sergeant Rick Weaver of the Roads Policing Team said; "These unmarked bikes pose a real threat to motorists and bikers who flout the rules of the road in Cheshire and put other road users in danger. They look like any other motorbike you might see on the road but we can record any dangerous driving and use that as evidence in court."

One motorist has already received a hefty penalty for his dangerous driving of a motorcycle on the A54 near Winsford. The rider who was followed by one of the bikes ridden by Sergeant Weaver was recorded going from 0 - 120mph in a 60mph zone.

Sergeant Weaver added; "This man was speeding at more than twice the legal limit for the road, at that speed the slightest mistake either on his behalf or that of another road user could have had fatal consequences for himself or others.

"The evidence from the cameras onboard the unmarked bike led to this individual receiving a 12 week suspended prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 18 month disqualification and having to take an extended driving test, 100 hours community service and a total of £345 costs.

"This conviction shows how serious both Cheshire Police and the Courts are when it comes to dealing with dangerous driving in Cheshire. These new bikes will be a great tool in combating those who believe they can ignore the rules of the road in our county."

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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Terry Roeves
Sunday 23rd August 2015 at 8:30 am
Must work for speeding motorists too. Just not worth it. Hardly any difference in journey time.
Raymond Acton
Sunday 23rd August 2015 at 3:49 pm
Wilmslow Police need go no further than Alderley Rd near Royal London and Knutsford Rd leading away from the King's Arms roundabout.
Nick Jones
Sunday 23rd August 2015 at 8:57 pm
No excuses here....... but why just pick on bikes ? there are more dangerous car drivers around.......try the A34 bypass, Altrincham rd.........
the bridge by the train station....
Pete Taylor
Monday 24th August 2015 at 9:37 pm
Might it not be more cost-effective to mount fixed cameras on the bridges along the by-pass between the A538 Prestbury Road spur and the Congleton Road roundabout beyond Alderley Park? These could capture ALL speeders, (particularly the Thursday evening Ferrari racer-boys) rather than off-chance co-incidences of passing motor-cyclists and cops.
Manuel Golding
Friday 28th August 2015 at 1:50 pm
A few weeks ago a group of local house owners paid for their own traffic survey on Alderley Road, just south of Donkey Lane.
One motorist was recorded by the survey as doing 92 mph in a 30mph zone, from the Kings Arms roundabout towards Alderley, over the markers. Okay, it was about 2 a.m. but.....!!!!