Good news at last!

According to a report in this week's MCN, North Wales Police have finally ended their policy of zero-tolerance aimed at the biking community, or Operation Focus as it was officially known. Part of a statement issued by the NWP states: “An intelligence-led approach will mean the end of large numbers of motorcyclists routinely stopped each weekend to check the legality of bike and rider.”

As part of the new “common sense” approach;

There will be no random stops

Dark visors will be tolerated in daylight

Aftermarket exhausts will be tolerated as long as there is no “noise annoyance”

There will be no automatic prosecution for small number plates, (as long as “the plate is clearly legible and it is clear that the breach of regulations is not an attempt to evade automatic reading equipment”.)

However, speeding and poor riding will be targeted

 But be warned! They ain't going soft on no-one. The statement also said that officers would “spend more time conducting overt and covert patrols and monitoring rider behaviour along the more problematic routes“.

 At least we can now ride with relative ease through North Wales without the constant fear of being stopped or harrassed in petrol stations or lay-bys. Unless you're driving like a complete nutter or incompetent idiot, and if this is the case you deserve to be stopped 'cos you're spoiling it for everyone else, as in the case of the Cat and Fiddle road.

Naturally MCN are claiming this change of attitude by NWP as their victory brought about by the mass invasion last September. Maybe that did have some influence, (and I certainly enjoyed taking part), but I think part of it was brought about by the change of regime, most importantly by the guy at the top, Mark Polin, who is also a keen biker. But whoever it's down to, it can only be a good thing. Just so long as the idiot element don't screw it up for the rest of us.

You can read the article (and how MCN are blowing their own trumpet) by clicking on the link below.  

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2010/March/mar0510-north-wales-police-no-more-random-stops/

Dab o chi Boyos!

Rob D.