Government Announces Total Ban on Scrambler Use in Public Places

• Ministers have announced plans to implement a complete ban on scrambler use in all public places, following the tragic death of Grace Lynch last month.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien, Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney, and Minister of State for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer today confirmed the proposals, which aim to close any remaining loopholes in existing legislation.

The announcement follows a meeting convened by the Taoiseach after the death of Grace Lynch on 25 January. The new regulations will strengthen enforcement powers for An Garda Síochána and are expected to come into effect within the coming weeks.

As an immediate measure, the Ministers propose to increase the daily fees that accrue to seized vehicles, making it more costly for owners to reclaim them.

Minister O'Brien said:

"These new regulations will help to bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases. We owe it to Grace Lynch, her family and her friends to introduce regulations to further restrict the inappropriate use of scramblers in public places as a matter of urgency."

Currently, most scramblers are designed for off-road use only and are unregistered. Without registration, the vehicles cannot be taxed, making their use on public roads already illegal under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

Gardaí have the power to seize unregistered, untaxed, or uninsured vehicles on public roads. Once seized, vehicles can be disposed of six weeks after detention, provided two weeks' notice is given.

Minister Canney said:

"It should be noted that most scramblers already cannot be used legally in public places, and none can legally be driven dangerously anywhere. An Garda Síochána already has full powers to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously in any location."

Since 2023, over 1,000 e-scooters, quad bikes, and scramblers have been seized by Gardaí.

Minister Buttimer said:

"Anyone considering the purchase of an off-road scrambler should be aware that unless you plan to use it exclusively for off-road purposes such as farm work or not use it at all, there is no lawful reason to possess one."

The Ministers confirmed that scramblers used entirely off-road, driven safely with landowner permission, will remain legal.

The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, commenced in July 2023, already made it an offence to drive dangerously in any location, not just public places, and gave Gardaí powers to enter property to retrieve scramblers after an incident.