Illegal off-roading in the North York Moors national park
A 15-year-old biker had his uninsured machine seized during a crackdown on unlawful motor use in a national park.
Another driver was stopped from using a 4×4 vehicle to drag people round a car park in an inflatable dinghy. The actions were part of a joint effort by the North York Moors National Park Authority, North Yorkshire Police and Forestry Commission at the weekend.
The operation followed a rise in illegal off-road use by motorbikes and 4×4 vehicles in the national park during the winter months.
National park rangers launched the crackdown with police and Forestry Commission staff last Sunday throughout the area.
A spokeswoman said: “The aim of the days is to offer face to face advice to recreational riders and drivers but also to take necessary enforcement action in cases of blatant disregard of the law.”
Sixteen trail-bike riders and four drivers of off-road cars were spoken to during the action day. Officers also gave advice to the parents of several children using mini quad bikes in a public place.
Richard Gunton, the national park authority’s director of recreation and park management, said: “Illegal off-roading is ruining some areas of the North York Moors.
“The moorland is quite a fragile environment and off-road vehicles churn up the ground creating deep ruts that make it difficult for people to walk, cycle or ride along. It also disturbs livestock and nesting birds, destroys rare plants and flowers and can ruin visitors’ experiences of what is on the whole a tranquil area.
“There are routes in the National Park that people can use off-road vehicles and we would ask that people stick to these as we fully intend to take enforcement action against anyone found repeatedly riding or driving where they’re not supposed to.”
The aim was also to provide a visible presence to help deter illegal off-roaders.
The park authority has guidance for people wanting to ride trail bikes and other motorcycles off-road in the ‘Discover the Place’ section of the authority’s website under ‘Activities’.
Motoring organisations’ Land Access and Recreation Association has also developed codes of good practice for recreational driving and riding in the countryside which is on their website.
