Nuisance motorcyclists and drivers in Leeds face £100 fines as council confirms ban on revving engines

Leeds City Council will introduce a public space protection order (PSPO) across the city from April 1, following a consultation last year. The move, which will apply to cars as well motorbikes and quadbikes, aims to crack down on vehicle-related anti-social behaviour.

Drivers and riders who rev their engines too loudly, play music at unreasonable levels or beep their horns unnecessarily could all be fined under the scheme. Local police said last year that such behaviour was a growing “national problem”, but parts of south and east Leeds have been particularly affected by it in recent months.

Rothwell councillor Stewart Golton, who is leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group, welcomed the move after the issue had caused “real distress” for his residents. He said: “Anti-social behaviour involving quadbikes has been a problem for some time now.

"What is particularly dangerous is they’re not just riding around off-road but they’re taking it onto the public highway and public footpaths where people have had near misses. I’d like to see these PSPOs enforced very strongly in the interests of safety of misguided youngsters themselves and those they put at risk through their behaviour.”

Speaking last July, when a consultation over the idea was announced, deputy council leader Debra Coupar, said that “everyone has the right to feel safe in their community”. She added: “Tackling vehicle related nuisance is a key priority for us as we recognise the impact it has on people’s lives and so, working in partnership with the police, we are seeking to address it with this new measure.”