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Why the massive Finks to Melbourne biker race could be his last
- Victoria prepares to ban outlaw bikes in club colors
- The ban would mean bikes can’t wear patches in public
- Other Australian states have similar bicycle laws.
Australian biker gangs are fast running out of places to display their colors with Victoria poised to become the latest state to introduce a ban on displaying club badges.
Victoria Police have called on the state government to introduce new laws against banning motorcycle clubs from wearing their colors in public, in the hope that it will put an end to the national races that bikers hold in the state each year.
Such laws would prohibit Finks, Comancheros, Rebels, and Hells Angels from wearing their patches and insignia in public or face heavy fines and even prison terms.
The prospect of increasing anti-gang laws was discussed at a meeting with senior police and government officials late last year, and the new rules could go into effect by the end of the year, said the herald sun reported on Friday.
It comes as the bikie Finks gang defiantly took part in their massive run to Melbourne last Saturday.
Finks’ associates made an intimidating profile when they wore face masks and rode into town on their Harleys last weekend for their annual tour of Victoria.
Hundreds of outlaw cyclists traveled to Wodonga, on the NSW-Victoria border, to start the 350km journey to the Finks’ clubhouse in Cranbourne, Melbourne.
A group of heavily tattooed associates were seen driving into town and joining the rest of the bikers gathered outside Pie Face in the lead up.
Skull-patterned face masks and leather vests emblazoned with the club’s emblem were popular with the assembled members.
Police said they would alert cyclists with motorcyclists coming from all over the country to participate in the national race.
“There will be increased police presence in relevant areas over the weekend,” Victoria Police Sgt Julie-Anne Newman said at the time.
Police will monitor riders both in Victoria and on the interstate as they travel to Wodonga ahead of the race and will take immediate action when criminal, road safety or public order offenses are identified.
The Victorian crackdown comes after the Finks defiantly participated in their national race in the state on Saturday, despite a warning from police that they would be closely watched.
‘Victoria Police will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies as part of a national approach to OMCG enforcement.’
Motorcycle gangs often organize races to show the strength of the club and can be used as a form of intimidation against rival organizations.
The introduction of new bicycle laws in Victoria would bring it in line with many other Australian states.
Western Australia has some of the strictest bicycle laws in the country.
The legislation prohibits riders from socializing together in public and displaying the club insignia in public, including gang patches, stickers and tattoos.
Some riders have even had to wear band-aids or have been told to wear makeup to cover their ink when appearing in court.
Queensland and Tasmania have similar laws, with the Sunshine State being the first jurisdiction in the world to ban the display of club colours.
A member of Finks wears a skull print face mask along with a club vest for their 350km journey to Cranbourne
South Australia declared 10 motorcycle gangs criminal organizations, making it illegal for them to assemble in public or wear their colours.
In the Northern Territory, members of outlaw motorcycle gangs are prohibited from wearing their colors on licensed premises.
NSW has no law on club colors or insignia, but it is a criminal offense for a person to communicate with at least two people who have been convicted of an indictable offence, after receiving a warning.
Attendees greet each other before the national race took off from Wodonga on Saturday.