Government planning total ban on use of scrambler bikes in public

The Government has today (Wednesday) announced proposals to implement a total ban on the use of scrambler bikes in public places.

In a statement, it said Taoiseach Micheál Martin had convened a meeting of "key members of the Government and senior officials to discuss an outright ban on all scramblers" following the tragic and untimely death of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch on January 25.

The proposal for a total ban on the use of these bikes in public was announced by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety Seán Canney, and Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer.

The Ministers said they will "propose regulations to implement a total ban on scrambler use in public places," and would also seek "to strengthen the existing enforcement powers" of the Gardai.

"The intention is to close any cases where scrambler use may previously have been legal outside of appropriate off-road settings, and to enhance powers of seizure to reduce the number of seized vehicles that end up back on the roads," said the statement.

"It is intended to implement the ban within the coming weeks. As an immediate measure, the Ministers propose to amend regulations in order to increase the fees that accrue to a seized vehicle each day.

"These regulations will further strengthen the provisions already in place to tackle dangerous scrambler use," the Government added.

"Currently, under the Road Traffic Act 1961, mechanically propelled vehicles such as scramblers can only be legally driven on public roads if they are registered and have a registration plate.

"Most scramblers are designed for off-road use only and are unregistered, and are therefore already illegal for use on the road.

"In the absence of registration, a vehicle cannot be taxed. The Gardaí have the power to seize vehicles being driven on public roads that have not been taxed or lack insurance, or where the driver does not hold the relevant driving licence.

"Once seized, An Garda Síochána has the power to dispose of a seized vehicle six weeks after the date of detention, provided two weeks' notice of the intention to dispose is given."

Commenting on the proposed changes, Minister O'Brien said: "These new regulations will help to bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases.

"We owe it to Grace Lynch, her family and her friends to introduce regulations to further restrict the inappropriate use of scramblers in public places as a matter of urgency," he added.