Reckless cyclist will spend 16 months behind bars.

Joseph Milhoan of Canyon Country was sentenced to 16 months in state prison Wednesday for his involvement in several incidents of reckless driving and evading deputy sheriffs in the Santa Clarita Valley over an 18 month period that started in November 2006 and ended with his arrest in May. The sentence was part of a plea deal accepted to satisfy the charges of evading a police officer, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and violating probation.

"This is a perfect example of how serious our deputies and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office are taking these types of reckless actions and offenses," said Captain Anthony La Berge of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  "This type of behavior and decisions by motorcyclists and motorist will not be tolerated as they too often end in tragedy.  Although this young man is losing his freedom for a while, he could have lost his life or seriously injured an innocent person."

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Of the 60 motorcycle related accidents in the City of Santa Clarita last year, nearly 40% of them involved unlicensed motorcycle drivers.  LaBerge advised that of the four fatal traffic collisions last year, three of them were motorcycle riders and this year isn't looking any better with two fatalities to date.  Parents are urged to enroll their teens in a motorcycle safety class before purchasing a motorcycle or allowing them to ride a motorcycle.  It is a fact that unfamiliarity with the motorcycle and failure to complete a motorcycle safety test through the DMV, as well as speeding were direct contributing factors in nearly every fatal motorcycle accident in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2007.

To read about Milhoan's arrest and offenses, click here . For more motorcycle related facts, training classes, and safety information, visit the following link .