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Quad bikes seized as police target hotspots

Vaila Finch
28/ 7/2006

A CRACKDOWN on illegal quad bikers is having good results, according to police in Rochdale.

A recent operation involving the police off-road bike unit resulted in three arrests and 31 machines being seized.

Ten fixed penalty notices, which serve as a preliminary warning before a bike is seized, were also handed out during Operation Camenca.

Inspector Carol Wright said: "The off-road bike unit has dedicated a significant proportion of its duty time to the division.

"Officers are focusing their activity on highlighted areas and have achieved a good amount of success.

"The problem has reduced this summer from the previous summer both in reports and complaints."

Quad bikes are becoming increasingly available with a number of cheap and often unsafe machines coming over from China and costing as little as £60.

The dangers of using the bikes are well known, with statistics showing that five people in Greater Manchester in the past 10 months have been killed while using off-road bikes.

A 22-year-old man is believed to have drowned in a river after falling off his bike near Dye House Lane, Smallbridge.

A teenager from Rochdale also fractured his pelvis in an accident at Hollingworth Lake last October.

Operation Camenca has targeted hotspots across Rochdale to try and stop further incidents happening at a time when fine weather encourages people to be out riding.

Inspector Wright said: "Quad bikes present a real danger to other road users, pedestrians and also to the riders themselves, which is why we are committed to addressing this problem.

"I would urge parents to think about allowing their children to have such a bike and also ensuring that any bike is used responsibly and legally on approved sites."

She pointed out that it is illegal to ride an off-road motorbike on a footpath, cycle way or public space.

They can, however, be used on the road by people over the age of 16 if they are taxed, insured and wearing a helmet.


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Most recent 2 of 3 user comments

   PLEASE SUPPLY THE LIST OF TRACKS PULIC CAN USE LOCAL WITH OPENING TIMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STILL WAITING
darren moores, HEYWOOD
3/09/2006 at 00:53
   I'm delighted to see this action by the police and hope to see it continue. We have seen a number of quad bikes and motor bikes driving dangerously on our lane and it won't be long before there is a serious accident. We have lots of families walking in the area as well as horses on the lane. The speeds that the bikes are driving around blind bends and on rough terrain means stopping in time is unlikely if their paths cross. Well done to our local police! Keep it up.
Tony Pockney, Lower Crimble
18/08/2006 at 21:39
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