Go-peds Scooters Mini Motos Motorbikes Scramblers A guide to
Transcription
Go-peds Scooters Mini Motos Motorbikes Scramblers A guide to
Go-peds Scooters Mini Motos Motorbikes Scramblers A guide to your legal responsibilities if you are buying, selling or riding off road or field bikes or vehicles As a rider or owner of one of these vehicles... If you own or ride a mini moto, there are restrictions on where you can use your vehicle. Mini motos include: • Petrol driven motorbikes • Go-peds • Electric/petrol driven scooters • Some off-road motorbikes Mini motos cannot be used: • On public roads, unless the vehicle is taxed, licensed and insured • On footpaths or cycle routes, under ANY circumstances To use a mini moto on the road, riders must be licensed, aged over 16 and wearing an approved crash helmet. If the vehicle is not registered for the road, it may only be used legally on private land with direct permission of the landowner. In many cases this will be the local council. Remember Children using mini motos should be supervised by a responsible adult. Do you know? If you ride one of these vehicles in places where you shouldn’t, then you could be committing serious offences, which may lead to: • Prosecution (for offences such as dangerous driving) • Having your bike seized and removed by the police. It will cost you £105 to get it back, on top of the £12 you’ll have to pay for each 24 hour period that your vehicle is impounded • Your driving licence being taken from you for 12 months, and you receiving points on your licence too (even if you are too young to have a licence, they will be added once you do get one) • You receiving a hefty fine of £1000, or even a prison sentence • You being served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) • Receiving an £80 penalty notice • You facing a claim in the civil courts, especially if you injure someone or cause damage. And if you, or someone riding your bike, kill or seriously injure someone, you will face imprisonment Section 59 (Police Reform Act 2002) What’s more, if you are causing a nuisance on your vehicle and using it in an anti-social manner, by causing harassment, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public and you have been warned by the police about your behaviour, they may seize your vehicle. Information for people selling these vehicles If you are selling these vehicles, either from a shop or over the internet, you should make sure that whoever is buying the vehicle knows the restrictions that are in place relating to their use. Any description you make about mini motos, miniature motorbikes and motorised scooters must be accurate. If you are in trade and this description isn’t accurate, you could be committing an offence under the Trades Descriptions Act 1968. For more information contact: Derbyshire County Council, Trading Standards Service, Chatsworth Hall, Chesterfield Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3FW Tel: 08454 040506 Fax: 01629 585917 [email protected] www.derbyshire.gov.uk/business/ trading_stanards Petrol Don’t forget, petrol must not be supplied to anyone under the age of 16 If your land is being used by riders of off-road vehicles If your land is being used by people riding motor scooters, mini motos etc, you must be aware that if anyone, whether a rider, passenger or passer by, is injured as a result of this activity then you may face legal action. This could happen if you have not given permission for the use of these vehicles on your land and have not taken reasonable steps to stop your land being used for this purpose. Safe & legal motorcycling If you have a motorcycle or off-road motorbike you must have: • A driving licence. You can’t learn on a motorcycle over 125cc until you pass your test (unless you are on a Direct Access course and are aged at least 21) • Insurance is required whether your are riding or even pushing your motorcycle • Test certificate, if your bike is over three years old • Tax and registration Your bike must also be street legal - in other words, everything on it needs to work properly. This applies if the vehicle is being ridden or pushed. You can only use your motorcycle offroad with the direct permission of the landowner. Remember, if you are riding any motorised bike or scooter illegally the police can: • Seize it • Scrap it • And fine you If you are a member of the public and are concerned about this problem... There are a number of things you can do if you are affected by people using the vehicles illegally. Maybe they are behaving anti-socially, making too much noise or even putting people’s lives at risk through dangerous driving: • Write down the date, time and location of the activity • See if you can make a note of what type of vehicle it is, the make and the colour • Identify who the culprits are and what they were wearing, if you can - if you know who owns the vehicle, even better • If it is safe to do so, try to take a photo or video recording Then ring the police on 101. Or, if you want to remain anonymous, you can call Crimstoppers free of charge on 0800 555 111. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable, so make sure you help the police and other criminal justice agencies fight the problem. Please tell us if you need this document in large print, on audio tape, computer disk or in Braille. Contact us on: Tel: 01773 841652 Fax: 01773 841539 Minicom: 01773 841490