POLICE kept a close eye on about 90 Hells Angels bikies yesterday as they made their way south for their annual poker run.

The run, which took the bikers from Port Noarlunga to Victor Harbor, disrupted traffic for most of the afternoon.

Dozens of police, including a team from the Crime Gangs Taskforce, followed the run to manage traffic and monitor behaviour.

Roads were blocked, traffic stopped and light sequences were changed to allow the group to make their way south safely.

 Random drug and alcohol tests and vehicle inspections were conducted at different locations during the run, a police spokeswoman said.

Bikes were checked one by one at 15 stations, with riders forced to show their licences and have their motorbikes inspected.

A number of bikes were defected and there were seven arrests for offences including unruly behaviour. Amateur photographer Jason Pine – who captured the action for the Sunday Mail – was driving north along South Rd to a personal engagement.

"I actually thought it was going to get ugly because there were a lot of cops – probably one cop per person," he said of the congested scene he witnessed.

Mr Pine pulled his car over to take the photographs and spoke to a man claiming to be a Hells Angels member who had not joined the run.

"There were actually bikies that were watching from the side and I actually spoke to one of them and he said that they knew the cops were there and they had done it anyway," he said.

"He told me he didn't want to go because he didn't want any trouble."

The annual event generally includes stops at five pubs, with players given a card at each.

At the final stop each person presents their poker hand

I was in Victor Harbor on the weekend and witnessed the entry to the town of the Hells Angles run. Wife and I were sitting at a Cafe having lunch when we knew something was about to happen as 2 Police bikes and about 4 Police cars leading the run sped past heading to the far carpark opposite the pub. Followed by the run participants and then more Police cars following. Also hovering above was a helicopter tracking their movements. There was a local retired guy sitting at the next table having some lunch and he turned to me and made comment about Rann and his governments obsession with bike riders. He was totally pissed off with the tax payers money being wasted on this blitz coverage. Stated that they should be out covering other issues including the Gang of 49 in the city. He wasn't very impressed and was keen to write a letter to the editor about it. I wonder what he thought if he saw the news article that night about the 100 Police stopping all of the riders, taking details, numbers, and defecting bikes. I hope it moved him to write a letter...................tc

Aaaaah another truckload and a half of taxpayer dollars down the shitter, and yes, I do believe I can hear another nail being hammered into Mikes coffin, well done once again our fearless leaders...

Thank christ I live in Victoria!!!!!

if the police & the pollies are trying to piss everybody off they are going the right way. at the moment the boys are at least playing along with some of their bullshit games. god help them all when they have had enough. the cops must follow rules with their guns, bikers don't when they choose not too. i hope it doesn't happen but i can see this all ending in tears with blood being spilt. they are only going to force them underground where they will never get in or break their code of honour. if i was passing these rules, i would be doing it from a different country & have my life insurance maxed up & paid up to date. i'm another thankfull victorian, well at least for now & i'm not even in a club. maybe all bike riders should become club members to piss them off, just a numbers game

Hey Derro, you obviously got my link to the forum and more amazingly it worked... he he... welcome aboard... You can claim to be from Vic but with the amount of miles done over here you can be an honorary Sth Ozian... Thanks again for the visit, cheers to the new missus and we"ll be keeping an eye out for some piccie posting... Cheers - Sump...

Oh forgot to mention that the original report quoted approx 400 in number not 90 so someone had more toes & fingers than brains...

Its just like the Bathurst riots,if the cops didn't show and make a scene there wouldn't have been any riots.