Off road blitz
starts now
Dave
Savides
CITY cops have
been given the
go-ahead to impound
quad bikes,
scramblers and
off-road bikes in
response to hundreds
of public
complaints.
Accused of ripping
up the environment,
disturbing the peace
and endangering
public safety, those
engaged in this type
of behaviour will
have their outdoor
recreation severely
curtailed.
‘Enough is enough,’
said uMhlathuze
Traffic Chief, Paul
Oliver.
‘We have pleaded, we
have warned, we have
tried to educate all
without success.
‘It’s now time to
put a stop to this
blatant disregard
for the law and for
the rest of the
community.
‘For a start, most
of these vehicles
are unregistered and
unlicensed for use
on public roads,
because they do not
comply with normal
safety and
roadworthy
standards.’
Oliver said
operations had been
held in Meerensee
and Birdswood last
week and that one
rider had been
charged recently on
Naval Island.
‘Our complaints are
from all the
suburbs, as well as
from owners of
private land such as
farmers and the
forestry section,
where people assume
they can ride
without permission.’
Blatant disregard
‘Many of the riders
are minors and what
makes it worse is
that they are
arrogant and abusive
when stopped,’ said
Oliver.
He warned that
minors were not
immune from
prosecution and that
they would be taken
to court along with
their parents.
Oliver said the only
option was for
owners to get
together with
suppliers of these
bikes to negotiate
an appropriate site
where they could be
used safely.
‘At present there is
no legitimate,
approved site.
‘The public is tired
of the noise and the
disturbances and so
are we,’ said
Oliver.
‘From now we will
enforce the law
strictly, with zero
tolerance.’
