Off road bikes causing cause concern

Residents are up in arms about a group of youngsters who are racing on scramblers through the streets of Numbi, Hazyview residential area and the Sabie road. These young boys, some as young as 8 yrs. old, race recklessly up and down streets at incredible speeds risking the lives of other road users.
Hazyview traffic department has identified the culprits and have already issued verbal warnings to some of their parents. The Road Traffic Act is clear about the use of such off road bikes. They are not allowed to be driven on public roads or pavements. These bikes usually do not have the required head lamp, two rear view mirrors, indicators tail lamp, stop lamp, licence plates and a licence disc. Furthermore they are usually unregistered and often the riders do not have a valid driver’s licence. Recently the traffic department stopped and fined a youngster on a scrambler who had a learner’s licence for a 250cc motorbike. According to Road Traffic Act a learner’s licence is only valid for a person under the age of 18 on a motor cycle with an engine capacity of under 125cc only.
The traffic department warns that if these youngsters continue to contravene the law serious steps will be taken against them or their parents. Traffic officials can in such cases, go to the offender’s residence and query its ownership. Usually in the case of an under aged driver it would be the parent who would be the owner, in which case the parent can be charged with allowing an unlicensed person to drive a motorbike. Should the parent deny ownership he must give proof of who the registered owner is or else they could be charged with possession of a stolen bike and can also be arrested. In both instances the bike can be confiscated. Should the case go to court and the accused found guilty, such a bike may be confiscated permanently by the state
In South Africa a quad bike is not allowed to be registered and licensed since it was not designed to be used on a public road and can never be roadworthy.
Residents can lay complaints against off road bike riders who are breaking the law, with either SAPS or the traffic department.