Police wage war on mini-moto offences

Bikes used illegally on the roads will be seized and probably destroyed.

The miniature machines are faithful and powerful reproductions of full-sized motor bikes and can cost up to 350 each.

Police in Bexhill have decided to deal decisively with a problem which has escalated with the summer months.

Sergeant Simon Atkins of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team says the problem is particularly acute in Sidley and Pebsham.

"Every week Bexhill Police receive numerous calls in relation to the problems and noise caused by motorcycles and particularly the type of bike referred to as 'mini motos.'

"Considering their size, these bikes are extremely powerful. In the wrong hands and in the wrong place they are dangerous pieces of machinery.

"These vehicles are not designed for, nor are they suitable for, road or pavement use. Nevertheless they are being used for just that purpose. Recent surveys within the community have highlighted the enormous anti-social problem caused by these vehicles and anti-social driving in general."

Sergeant Atkins says the law is clear:

Any rider in a public place

*must be at least 16 years old

*must hold a valid driving license for that class of vehicle.

*must wear a crash helmet

*must hold a valid certificate of insurance.

"If mini-motos are used on a road then the vehicle must be registered and have valid road tax. In short, if they are used on a highway they are no different to any other moped.

"Seizure of such vehicles under this power will result in either the destruction of the vehicle or a cost to the owner both for the recovery and subsequent storage of the vehicle. This cost could be more than the actual value of the bike."

It's not just the anti-social effect of these vehicles on the community or the law in relation to them that concerns Sussex Police. Sergeant Atkins is also extremely concerned with the safety aspect.

"For their relative size, these pieces of machinery can move very quickly and the position that the drivers have to adopt makes them difficult to control.

"Coupled with the fact that riders are so low to the ground it is difficult for drivers of other vehicles to see mini-motos when they are ridden irresponsibly and at speed.

"It is essential that people that have purchased, or those that are planning to purchase, a Mini Moto are aware of the law in relation to them.

"Without abiding to the rules and regulations detailed above these machines cannot be ridden legally in any public place.

"The only place they can be ridden is on private property with the permission of the land owner and even then there are often issues in relation to the noise these bikes make.

"Mini-motos are designed purely for the enjoyment factor they can offer and we are actively looking for a solution and perhaps a place where they can be ridden safely in a controlled environment."

Anyone who owns a suitable piece of land where mini motos could be used on without the current problem of the harrassment, alarm and distress they cause is asked to contact Simon Atkins at Bexhill Police Station on 0845 60 70 999 extension 64226.