It’s claimed scrambler bikes are posing just as much of an issue in Clare as they are in suburban areas of the country.
It comes as new laws are due to come into effect which will impose a total ban on the off-road motorbikes in public places.
Intended for recreational use on dirt tracks and quarries, scramblers have been widely mispurpoused for anti-social behaviour, joy-riding and to aid criminal activity.
Currently scramblers can only be used legally on Irish roads, if they’re registered and have registration plates, however new laws, which the Government has promised to introduce within weeks, will render them unusable in all public areas and will enhance Garda powers to seize and destroy the bikes.
It follows the tragic death of 16-year old Grace Lynch in Dublin last month, who was struck by a scrambler bike travelling at 85km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Clare-Tipperary Roads Policing Superintendent Eddie Golden says Gardaí are keen to tackling problem areas in this county.
Anecdotally, there have been persistent reports of scramblers being used by masked individuals in the South-East Clare area for suspected “drug runs”.
Under current Garda protocols, where these individuals are not wearing helmets, they cannot be pursued, due to public safety risks.
Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe says this scourge equally needs to be clamped down on.
You can listen to the full interview here:
