Mini motos are small motorcycles which can be great fun for the driver but they can cause distress to local residents. Noise pollution, damage to the environment and safety are the main offending problems.

There are a variety of vehicles that come under the category of mini motos, they include:

• Petrol driven mini motorbikes
• Go-peds
• Electric and petrol driven scooters
• Some off-road motorbikes

Some of these vehicles can reach up to speeds of 60mph. If not driven with care these speeds can cause serious injuries or death to yourself or anyone you might collide with.

To make sure you and other people remain safe and undisturbed by mini-motos there are laws in place. If you break these laws you will face getting in trouble with the police.

If you are under 16

Mini-motos can only be ridden on private land with the permission of the land owner.

If you are over 16

You can ride on private land with the owner’s permission but you can also ride on public roads as long as the mini moto is:

• Registered
• Taxed
• Insured

You must make sure the vehicle is:

• Fitted with an official number plate
• Road worthy with working brakes, brake lights and indicators

You must make sure you remember to:

• Wear protective headwear
• Hold a license for that class or vehicle
• Display ‘L’ plates if the licence you hold is provisional

It is against the law to ride on footpaths, pavements, cycle routes, open spaces or in parks.

If you break the law you could:

• Have your vehicle seized by the police
• Receive an £80 penalty notice (fine) for disorder likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
• Be taken to court and fined; receive points on your licence or even be given a driving ban

For more information about the use of mini motos follow the links below.

Date Published: 28/03/08