Cops get tough over quad bikes on beaches

Hawke's Bay residents can expect more police on beaches this summer, as cops crackdown on unlawful quad bike use.

Road Policing Sergeant Kevin Stewart said police, with Road Safe Hawke's Bay, intended to "undertake a more visible presence" on the region's beaches to discourage "unsociable behaviour" on quad bikes.

"A quad bike can be a useful piece of equipment, and it is an integral part of New Zealand life. But it is designed for single rider farm or agricultural use, and there can be serious safety risks when quad bikes are used incorrectly."

Police would be strictly enforcing the laws around the use of helmets, licences, speed limits and passengers on quad bikes.

He said the need for quad bike safety was highlighted in a Waimarama incident in January last year, when Ashlee Shorrock, 6, received serious head injuries after she was flung from an overloaded quad bike when it veered off a bank.

"That incident is a terrible reminder that quad bikes are not built for passengers, and using any form of transport while intoxicated can lead to tragic results."

Another high-profile incident involved a puppy being fatally hit by a three-wheeler motorbike when the bike was being driven on Haumoana Beach last year.

"A number of residents complained to the police and council following these incidents, so we are acting on those concerns."

Police would be delivering information pamphlets in all beach communities, and patrolling police will look to enforce the law whilst educating the public on their responsibilities.