The Irish Government has agreed new legislation banning the use of scrambler-style motorbikes in public places. The new legislation has been drawn up partly in response to the recent high-profile death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch, who was killed when she was struck by a scrambler bike while using a pedestrian crossing in north Dublin city.
When will the ban come into effect?
The legislation was agreed by the cabinet yesterday, Wednesday, and it should pass through its necessary oireactheas stages within the next few weeks. According to the Department of Transport, the new legislation is designed to: "implement a total ban on scrambler use in public places, and to strengthen the existing enforcement powers of An Garda Síochána. 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.”
The new legislation also increases the cost of the fees that accrue to a seized vehicle each day, while any loopholes which created legal uncertainty about using scramblers on the public road will be closed off, and Gardaí will be given powers to enter someone's property to seize a scrambler that's been used illegally.
What's the problem with scramblers?
Scrambler-style motorbikes are designed primarily for off-road racing, so they're light and fast, with rugged suspension that can cope with jumping kerbs and speed bumps. In that sense, they're ideal for criminal use and are often associated with such. Most scrambler bikes are unregistered for road use, so they're hard to track down when involved in an incident, not to mention being illegal to use on public roads without that registration (and the accompanying tax and insurance).
According to the Department of Transport: "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.”
Will it be illegal to own a scrambler?
No, you'll still be able to own one and use it responsibly in an off-road setting, but from now on, the bikes will have to be trailered or otherwise transported to any location for use. Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer said: "Anyone considering the purchase of an off-road scrambler should be aware that unless you plan to use it exclusively for off-road purposes such as farm work or not use it at all, there is no lawful reason to possess one. Where a scrambler is used entirely off roads and away from public places, and is driven safely with the permission of the landowner, it remains legal to use it and it is not our intention to restrict these lawful purposes.”
Regarding the proposed regulations, 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. We call on all scrambler users to obey the laws that are designed to ensure the safety of everyone. We ask family members to speak with those in their lives who may ride scramblers illegally. Using off-road scramblers on roads is already illegal, and Gardaí have the necessary enforcement powers to intervene based on existing legislation.”