FRUSTRATED Melton West residents fear it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured by mini-bikes being ridden dangerously in their neighbourhood.
Tom (not his real name) said young people were frequently riding recklessly at “all hours of the bloody night”.
“Some of the residents have illnesses and are elderly and everyone is scared [of these riders]; they are too scared to do anything,” he said.
“I called the police at 4.45am and they could hear the noise from over the phone. It’s so loud and dangerous.”
As reported by the Weekly, Melton residents last year urged the council and state government to tighten mini-bike laws and allow for bikes to be seized under hoon legislation.
Close to 50 concerned residents signed a petition calling on the council and police to act.
In 2009, Frankston Council introduced a bylaw that made riding an unregistered bike an offence.
Riding a mini-bike requires a permit from the council and bikes can be ridden only on private property or at clubs that allow it.
Cambrian Way residents last week said that riders, many of whom are children, had been causing trouble in the area for more than six years.
Tom said the inclusion of mini-bikes under hoon legislation was needed to combat the problem.
Melton’s Senior Sergeant Ross Burbidge said the reckless use of mini-bikes continued to be a problem.
“Melton is a fringe area and there’s nowhere for them to ride other than the Parwan motocross, but parents aren’t prepared to take them out there.”
Senior Sergeant Burbidge agreed tighter hoon laws could help police deal with dangerous and illegal behaviour.
He urged residents in affected areas to contact police with as many details about bikes and riders as possible.
“Sometimes when we have information about where the riders live, we can have stern words with their parents and sometimes that does help.”
Vowing to raise the matter in State Parliament, Melton MP Don Nardella said he fully supported calls for legislative change.
“[Mini-bikes] are unregistered. They are dangerous and accidents can be of dire consequence.”
