Over 100 young motorcyclists busted for illegal races

PATHUM THANI, Sept 14 (TNA) -- Authorities arrested 155 illegal street motorcycle racers locally called Dek Vanz and seized their motorcycles in areas where Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces adjoin and also raided motorcycle modification shops. Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy chief of tourist police, said that apart from the motorcyclists, authorities also arrested Ekarat Puangchim, the administrator of the Facebook page named Palang Huakhiew Prathet Nont that had invited young motorcyclists to race on public roads. More than 100 motorcyclists had gathered at the venue of each illegal race that the page promoted and covered live, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said. Besides, officials from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute found operators of 19 local shops illegally providing motorcycle modification services. The officials seized 84 motorcycle exhaust pipes for examination and suspended for 30 days the use of 39 big bikes that breached a noise limit. Moreover, officials found 83 speed pills and 1.1 grams of crystal meth with some of the 155 arrested young motorcyclists. The people and their parents were then reprimanded. (TNA)