BIKE BAN 

Complete ban on scrambler bikes from Good Friday as Grace’s Law to be signed off by Cabinet bringing in new laws

THE all-out ban on scrambler bikes will kick in on Good Friday as the Government will sign off on Grace’s Law on Thursday.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien will bring regulations to the Cabinet on Thursday to introduce an explicit ban on scramblers in all public places.

While dangerous driving of the motorbikes is already illegal, the new rules will give gardai the power to seize these bikes anywhere in the country, regardless of whether they are being driven safely.

The new regulation will also remove any legal ambiguity by providing a clear definition of what a scrambler is under law.

It will be signed off by Cabinet and come into effect on Friday, April 3 – clearing the way for a major garda crackdown over the weekend.

The ban on scramblers will be named Grace’s Law after 16-year-old Grace Lynch who died after being struck by a scrambler while crossing the road in Finglas, Dublin in January.

Legislation to enable the Government to ban scramblers from our roads was already passed through the Dail in 2023 but has never been acted on.

The Government admits that this was a mistake.

Following the death of Grace Lynch, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien fast-tracked the regulation for an all-out ban which is due to go to Cabinet for final approval tomorrow.

Once this is signed off on by Cabinet, the ban will take effect this week with An Garda Siochana urged to take action to implement the ban.

Following the death of her daughter, Grace’s heartbroken mother Siobhan vowed to campaign for dangerous scramblers and e-scooters to be taken off our roads altogether.

At a vigil for her daughter, brave Siobhan told the crowd: “I will fight, to get these scramblers and scooters off these streets.”

The Irish Sun’s Ban the Bikes campaign backed Siobhan’s call and urged the Government to stop dragging their feet and take action against the scourge of scramblers.

The campaign also calls for real action from An Garda Siochana to enforce the ban and take these dangerous bikes off our streets for good.

There are concerns about how the scrambler ban will be enforced with gardai raising issues relating to high speed pursuits.

Earlier this week, a garda was given a two-year driving ban after a judge ruled his attempts to chase down two scramblers amounted to dangerous driving.

Fianna Fail TD Tom Brabazon has called for gardai to be given statutory indemnity when it comes to chasing down scramblers as he believes criminals think they are untouchable on these bikes.

He said: “Government must now offer Gardai the necessary protection by way of statutory indemnity so that they can carry out their jobs and protect the public from these criminals who do wanton damage to our communities.”

THE IRISH SUN’S BAN THE BIKES CAMPAIGN

THE Irish Sun’s new Ban The Bikes campaign calls on the Government and An Garda Siochana to get dangerous scrambler bikes off our roads and out of our parks for good.

We call on the Coalition to STOP dragging their feet and action the legislation that lets the Transport Minister ban these bikes in public spaces.

We are also demanding An Garda Siochana enforce this ban by getting tough on riders and seizing scramblers.

The Government needs to give Gardai ALL the resources they need to track and take these bikes out of circulation for good.