The police force is to receive 24 new high-powered motorbikes over the coming weeks to help boost its ability to monitor traffic infractions across the island.

Superintendent Marlon Dietrich, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) transport manager, on Wednesday, received the first of the bikes at the launch of the KIG Yamaha dealership on Spanish Town Road in Kingston.

“We will hand them over to the traffic division and they will distribute wherever the need is,” Dietrich told Auto.

“They will decide on the deployment.”

Dietrich said that the Yamaha 900cc motorbikes would prove extremely effective for highway traffic patrol.

He added that the police force previously owned Yamaha motor bikes, however those were predominantly 600cc.

Last week transport minister Mike Henry warned that police patrols would be increased on the Highway 2000 against the background of increased traffic collisions on the high-speed roadway.

Henry said that the resources of the traffic police would be bolstered, especially to deal with the situation on the highways.

Head of the Traffic Division Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis yesterday voiced hearty appreciation for the bikes.

. “I know the resource constraint,” said Lewis. “For us to get 24 bikes under these economic conditions is highly appreciated.”

“It’s almost like getting 240 motor bikes,” he commented.

Lewis told Auto that the complement of operable bikes currently at the traffic division was 32.

“These additional bikes will suit us very much,” he said.

Over coming weeks KIG is expected to outfit the motorcycles for police use and deliver them to the JCF.

KIG recently took over the local Yamaha motorcycle dealership from Tropical Battery.