Mini Motos Crushed by Police
July 31 2006
Crime fighting agencies in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean are teaming up in a bid to crack down on the nuisance of mini motos.
Police and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) for the areas are joining forces to make sure these dangerous bikes are not used illegally on roads and other areas where they could cause serious injuries.
As part of the Respect Taskforce national crackdown and enforcement campaign, two Honda off-road bikes have been bought with money from the Respect Taskforce as well as both Forest and Gloucester CDRPs, that will be used to patrol known hotspot areas for mini moto use.
The bikes mean the specially trained police officers will now be able to look for mini motos in places a normal patrol car wouldn’t be able to reach.
Training for the riders has been provided by British motorcross champion Ady Smith and their protective kit will be supplied by Branson’s motorcycles of Gloucester.
Mini moto bikes and other mechanically propelled scooters cannot be used on the road or in public places without the relevant documentation. Without this the only place they can be ridden legally is on private land with the permission of the landowner.
Proactive operations will be run throughout the school holidays looking to clamp down on the use of mini motos.
Anyone found riding on the road could have the vehicle seized or land themselves with a hefty fine. Both the rider of the bike, and their parents if they are under 16, could also find themselves prosecuted for allowing them to be used on the road - parents may even face the loss of their own driving license for permitting the use of an uninsured vehicle.
And once the bikes have been seized police have the powers to destroy them to prevent them being used illegally again.
Mini motos are not intended to be used on a road, however if they are they are classed as a mechanically propelled vehicle and must be registered with the DVLA as a moped.
This brings in another set of regulations and riders must be aged 16 or over and must hold a relevant driving licence. If they hold a provisional licence L-plates must be displayed and they must have taken their Compulsory Basic Training.
Riders must also wear crash helmets and the vehicle must be insured, taxed and hold an MOT certificate if over three years old.
“In recent months it has been increasingly evident that many communities throughout the Forest and Gloucester division are concerned about the use of mini moto bikes, and responding to this concern is one of the reasons we are committed to taking this action,” said Chief Inspector Roger Clayton.
Thousands of leaflets informing youngsters and parents of the dos and don’ts for mini motos have been printed and will be distributed throughout the area, and signs will be put up in hot spot areas to ensure the message gets across.
Information days will also be run to ensure the community can find out accurate information on mini motos and how they can be used legally and safely.
And Gloucester CDRP have joined together with JDR Karting, Bristol Road Gloucester, (next to Toys R Us), to provide half price mini motos sessions each Tuesday throughout the school holidays.
These sessions will run from 5-6.30pm each Tuesday starting on July 25. Just remember - you must not ride your mini moto to JDR Karting - mini motos will fit in the boot of a car.
This is a golden opportunity to be able to use your mini moto in a controlled situation. The track at JDR has a tarmac surface and hi-speed banking.so this is a particularly good environment to be able to use and race the bikes.
“We are also working closely with garages to ensure fuel is not sold to anyone under 16 and we would appeal to the community to continue to report problems with mini motos so as we can gather vital intelligence information that will allow us to take direct action,” added C/Insp Clayton.
“The consequences of riding a mini moto on the road could be having your bike seized, a fine or an appearance before a court, but it could also be a fatal accident or a serious injury.
“When they are used in the right places, in the right way and with the right safety equipment mini motos can be fun, but we are determined to crack down on those people who use them in the wrong way.”
Councillor Bill Crowther, Chair of the Gloucester CDRP agreed: “As a local Councillor I receive many complaints of nuisance, noise and anti social behaviour resulting from the use of these mini motos.
“I hope that this enforcement campaign will reduce their illegal use, as I am very concerned about the danger these thoughtless riders constitute to the safety of residents using the public highways and open spaces in our city.
“I hope that with the partnership approach with JDR Karting, these riders instead of being a nuisance and danger to everyone including themselves will instead be able to have the fun of using the mini motos in a safe and appropriate environment.”
The campaign will also see close liaison with housing officers, as storing mini motos in homes could breach tenancy agreements because of the fuel contained in them.
Debbie Powell, Co-ordinator of the Forest of Dean CDRP said: “This is brilliant news for the Forest of Dean as mini motos are cauing a lot of concern in the district and I hope through this we will be able to ensure sensible enjoyment for young people without affecting other people trying to enjoy the Forest.”
If you are experiencing a problem with mini motos in your area, please contact Gloucestershire Police on 0845 090 1234 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 giving as much information as possible relating to the name and address of the owner of the bike, where the bike is stored, when and where the bike is being used (any particular days or times, any particular routes ridden) and any other useful information like description of the rider, make and colour of the bike.