SPM student among 17 held in JPJ illegal racing crackdown

An SPM student was among 17 individuals detained by the road transport department (JPJ) during a special operation against illegal street racing in the federal capital early this morning.

The student from a secondary school in Petaling Jaya was detained for performing a dangerous “wheelie” stunt.

When approached by reporters, the teenager said he had performed the stunt for fun and claimed he had not realised that JPJ enforcement officers were watching him.

He was detained for investigation under Section 42A(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) for participating in an activity involving speed trials on public roads.

JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli said the operation covered several locations in Kuala Lumpur, with all those detained brought to Jalan Sultan Ismail for further questioning.

The operation, which began yesterday and ended at about 4.30am today, saw eight individuals investigated under Sections 42A(1) and 42A(2) of Act 333, while another nine were detained for offences involving extreme motorcycle modifications.

“The nine cases are being investigated under several provisions of the Act, depending on the nature of the offences and the level of danger posed,” he told a press conference after the operation.

A total of 1,387 motorcycles were also inspected.

Aedy said the operation was aimed at curbing dangerous driving activities that threatened the safety of other road users.

Since its launch on Oct 25, the special operation under Section 42A has recorded nine cases – six in Kuala Lumpur, two in Selangor and one in Penang.

Section 42A, which came into force on Oct 16, allows enforcement action against illegal racing and speed trials on public roads without waiting for an accident, injury or fatality to occur.

Members of the public can report such activities through the MyJPJ application or by emailing [email protected], and may be called upon to assist in investigations.