A statistical recap released yesterday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows that motorcyclists are riding faster and more are riding without proper licensing or endorsements.

During 2006 -2008, troopers administered 8,070 citations to motorcyclists. Forty-three percent of these citations were for speed, with an increase of 25 percent in 2008 from 2006. One in five of the citations were for a license/endorsement violation, with an increase of 32 percent of these violations in 2008 over 2006. Overall, troopers handed out 34 percent more citations to motorcyclists in 2008 than in 2006.

Marion had 74 citations, second most in the area. Morrow County, which does contain a portion of I-71, had 94 citations.

“In 2008, there were 215 motorcycle-related fatalities on Ohio roadways,” Colonel Richard H. Collins, Patrol superintendent said. “This is the highest number of annual motorcycle fatalities in the 25 years for which data is available. Motorcyclists need to ride trained, ride licensed, ride sober and follow the proper speed limit to help prevent these tragedies from occurring on Ohio roadways.”

Citations issued by state troopers for older age groups are on the rise as well. Citations given to 46-55 year olds rose by 43 percent and citations given to 56-65 year olds rose by 73 percent from 2006 to 2008.