POLICE are threatening to seize trail bikes, dirt bikes and other motorised vehicles being used in suburban off-road areas.

A/Insp Elizabeth Swain said trail and dirt bikes being ridden in these areas posed a significant risk to the community.

“We will come down hard on these reckless individuals by seizing their bikes, taking away their means of engaging in this unsafe behaviour,” she said.

She said police were aware of recent incidents where trail bikes and dirt bikes had been ridden on public parkland, ovals, greenbelts, and footpaths, and had received several reports of these incidents near the Tuggeranong skatepark, as well as incidents in Melba and Gungahlin.

Riding trail bikes, dirt bikes and other motorised vehicles in suburban off-road areas was not permitted anywhere in the ACT.

“This is not harmless fun – it is incredibly dangerous, and it is against the law. Pedestrians using parks and footpaths shouldn’t have to keep an eye out for dirt bikes, and a collision in these circumstances could have fatal consequences,” she said.

“Police suspect in most cases these riders are unlicensed and the bikes are unregistered.

“We will come down hard on these reckless individuals by seizing their bikes, taking away their means of engaging in this unsafe behaviour.

“Police take reports of illegal trail bike riding seriously, and investigate all matters, but we cannot tackle this issue alone.

“We need information on these incidents from the public – the more reports we receive, the better an intelligence picture we can create of these offenders.

“Whatever information you can provide will help, and can be provided anonymously.

“Take note of what the people involved look like, any identifiable features such as hairstyles, what they’re wearing, any tattoos, the colour of motorbikes, and any premises they are coming and going from.”

Anyone who sees a motorbike being ridden illegally on footpaths or green belts should call immediately on 131444.