Kwinana rangers targeting off-road vehicles after rise in offences across the city

Kwinana rangers are stepping up efforts to reduce off-road vehicle activity, after police arrested a man believed to have brazenly targeted Kwinana police station. According to police, the 22-year-old Buller man used his off-road motorbike to ‘tear up the grass’ outside the station on July 26. Police airwing were nearby and responded to the incident, following the man to an Orelia home. Officers then attended, where they recovered the off-road motorbike and two stolen motor vehicles. The man was charged with offences including criminal damage and reckless driving, and will appear at Rockingham Magistrates Court on August 26. The City of Kwinana last week installed 30 signs throughout its suburbs outlining the $500 penalty that applies to illegal off-road activity, in a bid to reduce offences. It has also increased ranger patrols to catch offenders. Chief executive Wayne Jack said outside of private properties, off-road motorbikes were only permitted to be driven within one site in the city, which is off Thomas Road. “This city has seen a significant increase in off-road vehicles in non-permitted areas, particularly along Abercrombie Road and around the Magenup Equestrian Centre,” Mr Jack said. “City rangers will particularly target those areas. The city is responsible for administering the Control of Vehicles (Off-road Areas) Act 1978 which carries a penalty of $500 for using an off-road vehicle outside of a permitted area.” Mr Jack said off-road offences could be “dangerous to the community and become a noise nuisance to residents”. “Other offences also attract fines including driving without a valid licence, and not wearing a helmet which attracts a $400 fine for the first offence, so we will also be targeting these as one avenue to improving community safety within the city’s bounds,” he said. “Parliament is currently considering the Control of Vehicles (Off-road Areas) Amendment Bill 2024, aiming to significantly increase penalties to deter antisocial and illegal off-road vehicle activity, which have largely remained unchanged since 1978.” Mr Jack said residents should report trail bike and hooning activity to police online. For assistance with an incident, call 131 444.