Mini motorbikes not road–ready

Parents and guardians are being warned by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service to think twice before purchasing mini motorbikes, quad bikes, mini scooters and mini dirt bikes as Christmas presents for children unless they have a safe and legal place to ride them.

The bikes are miniature motorcycles and scooters which are usually powered by a small petrol engine.

Police officers are urging parents, before they spend any money on the vehicles, to consider not only the legal aspect of these bikes, but also the likelihood of injury to riders.

“These bikes can only be used on private land and never on a public road,” said Inspector Derrick Elliott of the Traffic Management Unit. “If they are used on a public road they are subject to the Traffic Law which requires the rider to have an appropriate driver’s licence, current insurance and relevant documentation from the vehicle licensing department.”

Under legislation the police have the power to seize these bikes if they are being used illegally.

“We don’t want to spoil people’s Christmas fun,” said Inspector Elliott. “But we want to make sure people are aware of the law. If you really do want to buy one these types of bikes make sure that you have access to land where it can be used safely and within the law.”

Source:http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin

Dad fined €500 for riding son's 'toy' motorbike

A FATHER who went for a ride with his child on a small scrambler bike he bought in a toy shop has said he couldn't believe it when gardai asked to see his driving licence for the vehicle.

Kevin Kelly (25) said the motorbike, which has a 20cc engine, was so small that it fit into the boot of the squad car.

Kelly, of Kilcarrig Green, Tallaght said he was unaware that under the road traffic legislation that he needed to have insurance for the vehicle also.

He admitted to driving the motorbike without insurance or a driving licence at Suncroft Drive, Tallaght.

Sergeant Michael Leahy told Tallaght District Court that he stopped Kelly shortly after 3pm on April 29 last year.

The sergeant said he asked Kelly to produce his driving licence and insurance at a garda station within 10 days but he refused to nominate a station.

Sgt Leahy also said there was no registration number on the vehicle and Kelly wasn't wearing a safety helmet.

Toy

Defence solicitor Grainne Malone said Kelly was driving a small scrambler bike, a child's bike which can be bought in a toy shop. Kelly's young child was also on the back of the bike when he was stopped by gardai.

Ms Malone said Kelly believed the bike, which he'd bought for his child, didn't count as a normal motor vehicle because it had such a small engine, 20cc or less, and "genuinely thought" it was safe to drive it.

She added that Kelly didn't nominate a garda station to produce his insurance as he simply didn't believe he needed insurance for the vehicle.

The court heard that Kelly, who is on disability and not working, has 18 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic matters.

Ms Malone said Kelly made a genuine mistake, but now accepts he was wrong to ride the bike.

Judge David McHugh fined Kelly €500 and disqualified him from driving for five years.

Source:http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/dad-fined-euro