Two young motorcyclists were issued hefty tickets after they were caught travelling nearly three times the speed limit along a notorious stretch of road.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Monday (July 30), a Saanich police reserve officer and traffic safety unit officer were monitoring traffic on Durrance Lake Road, an area that – given its straight stretches of roadway – typically sees excessively speeding vehicles.
The officers both heard the sound of motorcycles accelerating quickly and saw the bikes coming towards them. The motorcycles then veered into the oncoming lane to zoom past another vehicle.
The uniformed officer estimated the bikes were travelling at 160 km/h. The speed limit on that road is 60 km/h.
The police vehicle followed the bikes – though it took quite a bit of time and distance, said Sgt. Dean Jantzen.
When the lights and sirens were activated, one biker stopped while the second continued.
"These two riders were obviously known to each other. … The officer requested the one rider contact the other by cellphone, and have him return to the scene," Jantzen said. The second biker returned.
Jantzen said both motorcyclists – a 22 year-old Victoria man and a 25-year-old Oak Bay man – took responsibility for their actions and had no previous records. Each were issued a ticket for excessive speeding worth between $300 and $468.
Their licences were also suspended and their bikes were impounded.
"This is another instance where we see aggressive speeds, aggressive riding by motorcycle riders," Jantzen said.
As is the typical during the summer, Jantzen warned drivers that traffic officers will be deployed on Durrance Lake Road throughout the summer.
kslavin@saanichnews.com