A speed enforcement operation targeting motorcyclists in the Indian Head district July 24 led to 19 citations for improperly displaying tags and other violations, the Charles County Sheriff's Office announces.
According to Lt. Robert Cleaveland, commander of the Indian Head district station, people operating "sport" motorcycles travel at high rates of speed in his district, typically on Sunday afternoons, prompting numerous complaints from other motorists. In an effort to stop speeders, officers set up traffic stop teams on Livingston Road and Chicamuxen Road, where speeding sport bikes have been reported in the past.
"We get a lot of reports of these bikes speeding on Indian Head Highway and the secondary roads, so we conducted this enforcement operation in response to that problem," said Lt. Cleaveland. "No one was found speeding, but we did find the drivers in violation of other vehicle laws."
Of the 19 citations issued, most were for motorcycles that were not properly displaying registration plates. In many cases the tags were bent upward so the registration would not be visible. This violates the traffic law that states registration plates must be securely fastened in a horizontal position, in a manner that prevents the plate from swinging and in a place and position to be clearly visible. Officers also issued citations to drivers who did not have the required license to operate a motorcycle.
"It is our hope that the enforcement operation not only resolved the problems on the roadway that afternoon, but that it deters other drivers from committing violations in the future," said Lt. Cleaveland. "We also want our citizens to know that we listen to their complaints about these bikes, we take the complaints seriously and we do something about it."
To report speeding or other offenses to the Sheriff's Office, call 301-743-2222 in Indian Head, 301-932-222 in La Plata and 301-932-7777 in Waldorf.