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Police initially spotted a motorcycle racing along the Princes Freeway in Lara around 10 p.m. last night.
Shortly after, a police helicopter was deployed as the rider navigated through the streets of North Geelong, Corio, and Ocean Grove, allegedly reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h.
CCTV footage from a nearby residence captured both the sound and a fleeting glimpse of the motorcycle speeding down a local road.
The pursuit concluded at approximately 10:30 p.m. when the motorcycle stopped outside a residence on Christies Road in Leopold, where officers apprehended a 27-year-old man.
The man now faces charges, including dangerous conduct endangering life, along with several other traffic-related offenses.
The man was bailed to appear before Geelong Magistrates’ Court on May 8.
The motorcycle was impounded at a cost of $1305.
The police pursuit coincided with a Victorian Liberal Party pledge to crack down on offenders involved in car chases if they are elected at the November state election.
There’s currently three offence types related to police pursuits, with varying penalties ranging from fines to jail time.
The Liberal Party pledged to add a fourth offence, which would lower the threshold to lock offenders up.
The police union threw its support behind the proposal.
“Their punishment should better reflect the serious danger their actions have placed our police and the community in,” police union secretary Wayne Gatt said.
“We cannot have people where they continue, like last night, to drive on highways and freeways at 300km/h, putting the community at risk without consequence,” shadow police minister Brad Battin said.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams called the pledge a “back-of-the-envelope policy”.
“To be frank, this is already effectively law in Victoria, so it’s a bit embarrassing for Jess Wilson and the Liberals that this is the policy position they’ve come out with today,” she said.
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