Cops in Penang use videos to nab and charge mat rempit

BUTTERWORTH: The police in Penang are taking a different approach to combat the menace of illegal street racing in the state. A police source said instead of carrying out standard patrols and putting up roadblocks, an “investigation diary” or ID would be adopted to deal with illegal street racers.

“With the ID, police will zoom in on illegal races and detain the suspects once the race is over,” the source briefly said.

He said there was a fair amount of danger to both the racers and policemen in the process of nabbing the racers while travelling at breakneck speeds.

Instead, special cameras will record them in the act and after they are caught, the photos and video footage will be used as evidence against them in court.

The source added that since the last illegal race in Penang on July 17 along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near Penang Bridge, police have not detected any more illegal races.

“Either the racers are scared or they have found far-off places in order to evade us,” the source added.

During the illegal race on July 17, four motorcyclists were killed – three on the spot – and three others were injured. The fourth man died at Penang Hospital.

Yesterday morning, some 75 motorcyclists were issued with summonses during an operation dubbed Ops Lejang on Penang Bridge’s motorcycle lane at the mainland toll plaza.

State Road Transport Department operations chief Romli Che Abdullah said the operation was conducted by state JPJ and other enforcement agencies.

“The summonses issued were for various offences, including riding without a valid licence, no insurance coverage and illegal modifications,” he said.

The two-and-a-half-hour joint operation began at 10am and involved the police, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Immigration Department, and PLUS Bhd personnel.

During the operation, some 150 motorcycles were screened and 12 were seized for not having valid road tax and insurance, said Romli.

“Two of the motorcycles seized belonged to two foreigners who do not have a valid licence,” he said.