learning to ride

[CRF_Rider]

Last week my little cousin asked me to teach him how to ride (he's 12). An i agreed to do so.

I borrowed a TY175 from a friend to teach him on (what i originally learnt on no less), took him up to the local peice of common land an proceeded to go through the whole starting up, setting off, coming to a stop etc etc when 2 of her maj's finest come up to tell me that what im doing is illegal and that i'm going to have the bike taken off me. Then be escorted to a police car and then taken down to the police station all that stuff.

The bike is plated and insured, mot'd etc so after a long lengthy discussion if i took the bike home now, it wouldn't be taken off me but i would still be prosecuted. But then they also said they understood why i was there with the Flappit being closed down, and also not doing it on public roads etc. My little cousin didn't want to go to a track to learn as its a bit imposing for him and he wanted to have a grasp of the basics first. which is fair cop i can get where he's coming from.

Since when was it illegal? I thought common land was kinda just bits of land that people were allowed to use and such? Or at least they used to leave you alone because it was a bit of a grey area. Also how/where can i teach him without going to a track? the local quarry has been closed down (where bikes used to be able to ride for donkeys) so we can't go there either. Can't teach him on public roads obviously. Any ideas from you knowledge-able lot? Also about being prosecuted what do you think i should do just say ye fair do's and accept they've got me bang to rights (if they have) or seek a solictor? Such a shitter as it was going really well before hand.

Cheers CRF
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Why is it everything i race, seems to be going backwards?
Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

[Quickly]

Speak to a solicitor without a doubt, even just over the phone and see if you can get a consultation for free. The police just enforce the law, they neither learn nor interpret it properly. Fuck 'em, there's every chance there's something that will get you off - even the wording of the law they're trying to use.

As for somewhere to take the young'un, have a look to see if there are any old airfields near you. There are hundreds and they're usually out the way a bit.
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[tutton]

You'd need to know exactly what there trying to prosecute for really, as it could be something like the law which means the registered keeper cannot knowing let sumone without insurance ride the bike. so as the kid was riding it, its technically uninsured. Also opens up the grey area of private land, and land with public access being classed as public land still really...
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Rogerborg]

Don't admit to anything, don't accept a caution, don't make any statement, even to acknowledge that the incident happened.

Get professional advice, sharpish. As far as I know, the RTA covers "public highways", not off road. However, the Police Reform Act introduces the section 59 'bike ASBO' which covers any use in public.

Anyway, next time you do it, park a tatty caravan and a shagged out transit on the common ground, and start shrieking about harassment of your ancient gyppo culture - Plod will run a mile.

[Livefast123]

I remember the good old days back in Wales where I could ride a bike anywhere and walk down the road with an air rifle slung over my shoulder and nobody would give a monkeys let alone phone the police, they will have been there because somebody called them to 'nuisance motorcycles'

You will have committed an offence under Sect 143(2) of the RTA which basically is having no insurance. Because the land is common land and therefore a public place then you need insurance. The 12 year old can be done for riding without insurance and you for causing or permitting him to ride with no insurance. Both carry the same penalty.

If the 12 year old had been done for a section 59 offence then they would have given you some paperwork. Also if they did not report you for any offence at the scene then they can't really be serious about doing you as you have to be reported before a summons can be issued. Plus they didn't say what they were doing you for

I think that they will leave it at that, the bollocking being enough. You'll have to find somewhere private to teach him.

Oh how I wish for the good old days and common sense!
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Current ride - Yamaha MT-07

[MarJay]

Think of it this way:

If your house backed on to common land, and some bloke took this 12 year old kid up there in an old mini and let him drive it, would you call the police?

I would say with the amount of legislation around this area it is now impossible to ride a motorcycle on anything other than private land unless you are licensed, taxed, insured, MOT'd etc. Not only that, it is impossible to ride a legal motorcycle anywhere that isn't officially classed as a 'road' unless its private land.

I would say that the closest thing which applied to common land would have been a Byway Open To All traffic which is now defunct for motorvehicles, and even then you still need to be licensed, taxed, insured, MOTd.

Its bloody difficult, but if I were you I'd take him somewhere like Gingers Farm where the farmer lets kids ride around his field for a tenner.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[CRF_Rider]

cheers for all the tips guys, got a meeting with a solicitor tomorrow. Cheers Rogerborg deffinatly taken up the advice not said anything to the police.

don't think there is any old airfields near me Quickly but will have a gander

i agree Livefast123 ya can normally tell if people are taking the piss with things or not. i dont think he got above walking pace all morning lol. just trying to drill into him clutch control. Walk before ya can run and all that.

MarJay as for the mini thing not really, if they were taking the piss then yeah but if he was teaching him how to set off, stop etc then no i'd leave them be. Its how i learnt to drive in my dad's old series2 Landy. and i bet its how a lot of people learnt how to ride bikes/drive cars. Just using common sense and not taking the micheal. Yeah will have to look for somewhere like gingers farm. going to speak to a local greedy-ass'd farmer tomorrow evening, see if we can work something out.

god i hate this modern PC stuff. people don't use their brains anymore :/
____________________
Why is it everything i race, seems to be going backwards?
Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

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