Crackdown on cyclists unlikely
A SYDNEY police operation which saw a crackdown on cyclists ignoring road rules - including not wearing safety helmets - is unlikely to be repeated at Byron Bay.
And the reason is simple. It would seem the majority of bike riders who bend the rules in the town are from overseas and police believe there is little chance of them coughing up for the fines when they return home.
Tweed-Byron Police duty officer, Inspector Greg Jago, said police had the power to take action against cyclists, but he said a major problem at Byron Bay was the number of international offenders.
Inspector Jago said they were only in Australia for a short time and starting legal proceedings against them could be too costly for the community.
"That's why action levels are less than other areas," he said. "We have no means of following it up."
But having said that, Inspector Jago urged all cyclists, including backpackers, to wear safety helmets for their own safety and to help prevent serious injury.
Police handed out a number of infringement notices in the Sydney operation for a range of offences, including not wearing helmets.
The fine for not wearing a helmet is $66.
- Gary Chigwidden
