Illegal use

Illegal use may take place:

• on routes which carry no vehicle rights (such as footpaths or bridleways)
• on routes with legal restrictions
• on land adjacent to routes with vehicle access.

The highway authorities maintain records of the legal status of routes.

Police action can range from issuing warning notices for first-time offenders to confiscating vehicles for repeat offenders.

Green lanes are subject to exactly the same rules as a normal surfaced road. Users and their vehicle should be road legal. For example, they should ensure:

• their vehicle is road legal
• they are have a full and valid driving licence
• they are insured
• they have road tax
• their vehicle has legal number plates

How to prevent illegal use

1. Encourage responsible use through membership of a motor vehicle club
2. Telephone the police on 101 (the number for non-emergency crime) if you see vehicle users:

• leaving the track to drive or ride on open land
• driving or riding on footpaths, bridleways or restricted routes
• driving or riding in a vehicle that is not road legal