Riders take note, the Long Beach Police Department will be scrutinizing motorcycle safety and laws this weekend with an 8-hour special operation paid for by state and federal grants.
Officers in the LBPD Traffic Division will be patrolling citywide but will also target collision-prone areas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, to check for equipment and helmet violations as well as moving violations by riders and motorists.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation the number of registered motorcycles has spiked to more than 10 million as of 2011. Motorcycle fatalities now account for 11 percent of road fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Studies cite speeding and impairment due to alcohol or drugs as a contributing factor in many motorcycle crashes as well as inexperience.
Many riders lack the proper license, police said. All are encouraged to check out the training and safety information provided by the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, at http://www.ca-msp.org/, or by calling 1-877-RIDE-411.
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