30 motorcycles seized after Butterworth toll exit turned into 'racing circuit'

BUTTERWORTH: Police seized 30 motorcycles and issued 179 summonses for various offences in an integrated motorcycle operation near the Butterworth Outer Ring Road toll exit in Bagan Ajam.

The operation ran from 5pm yesterday until 2am today, with 145 people and 133 motorcycles inspected.

Seberang Perai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Abdul Rahman said the operation was carried out to detect and take action against motorcyclists committing various traffic offences.

"A total of 30 motorcycles were seized under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for various offences, while 179 summonses were issued throughout the operation.

"Of the total, 158 summonses were issued by the police, while the remaining 21 were issued by the Road Transport Department," he said in a statement today.

Anuar said the most common offence detected was riding without a driving licence, with 25 cases.

This was followed by non-compliant registration plates (24), failure to display probationary (P) or learner (L) licence plates (17), modifications to motorcycle structure or equipment (16), incomplete accessories (16), modified exhausts (15), no registration plates (13) and no side mirrors (12).

"Also detected were six cases involving vehicles without insurance coverage, six cases of expired motor vehicle licences, five cases of expired driving licences and three cases of faulty brakes.

"The Road Transport Department also issued five technical notices, 14 summons notices and two seizure notices during the operation," he said.

Earlier, a video went viral on social media showing a group of motorcyclists believed to have gathered at the Butterworth Outer Ring Road exit in Bagan Ajam as if it were a "racing circuit", disrupting traffic flow and sparking concern among road users.

The incident drew reactions from thousands of netizens, who claimed the group had grown bolder, not only racing on the highway but also crowding the toll exit with no regard for the safety of other road users.