I'm going to buy a quad for the winter just wondered Does anyone know in depth knowledge of the law regarding carrying a rifle on a quad via farms? Does it have to be covered whilst on highway or Aslong as im present can I travel legally, it it literally yards from gates to gate but beside the point I suppose. Many thanks all.
Carrying a rifle on a quad bike
- Thread starter bijssg
- Start date
White Hart
Well-Known Member
When I used to feed around and when lamping etc I just used to put the rifle in a slip. That was on a road legal quad and I went between farms never had a problem.
White Hart
Well-Known Member
OP stated "yards from gate to gate".
How about being mugged when you have parked up at your permission and open your car door.....
Yes, you have bolt hidden, ammunition hidden and rifle in a slip in the locked car boot. You put all together and then all of a sudden you "haven't taken all reasonable precautions" when you are mugged...
I do wish some people would get a better life.
Stan
Fair point, I missed that. In my case it's about a mile on the road.
Not sure this was necessary.
achosenman
Well-Known Member
Sorry mate, there is only the law. The police don't make it.
The Courts enforce the law. Below is the legal definition of loaded.
22.13 Section 57(6) of the 1968 Act includesa definition of “loaded” in relation to shot
guns and air weapons. An air weapon is to
be treated as loaded if there is a pellet in the
breach, even if the compression necessary to
fire the gun is not present; and in the case of
a shot gun or air weapon having a loaded
magazine, the gun is to be treated as loaded,
even though there is no round in the breech.
Rifle are lumped under the heading of "firearm" and treated the same as shotguns in this regard.
ATB
Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
I asked BASC and this forum for advise for quite similar circumstances, as my stalking land starts some 70 yards from my home, and I have to walk up and cross a public road which is a dead-end single track dark lane, but still a public highway.
On other permissions I can cross from farm to farm by simply crossing some minor roads.
The answer was that I required 'good reason' to be on a public highway with a rifle that was not in a slip, and the rifle had to be unloaded.
For me, going from one field to another while stalking by crossing a minor road is 'good reason'. The home situation (70 yards walk) is slightly different but I have informed my neighbours who know what I do and nobody had an issue with it, again is is quite rediculous to carry my rifle in a slip for 70 yards on a very quiet very minor road and than have to hide the slip in the bushes to start the stalk.
I translate 'good reason' as 'is it reasonable' - the answer in your case is Yes.
Naturally you have to pick your moment for crossing these small country roads, maybe it is not such a good idea to cross when a group of ramblers happens to pass, or a Police squad car
, although you would be doing nothing illegal.
On other permissions I can cross from farm to farm by simply crossing some minor roads.
The answer was that I required 'good reason' to be on a public highway with a rifle that was not in a slip, and the rifle had to be unloaded.
For me, going from one field to another while stalking by crossing a minor road is 'good reason'. The home situation (70 yards walk) is slightly different but I have informed my neighbours who know what I do and nobody had an issue with it, again is is quite rediculous to carry my rifle in a slip for 70 yards on a very quiet very minor road and than have to hide the slip in the bushes to start the stalk.
I translate 'good reason' as 'is it reasonable' - the answer in your case is Yes.
Naturally you have to pick your moment for crossing these small country roads, maybe it is not such a good idea to cross when a group of ramblers happens to pass, or a Police squad car
, although you would be doing nothing illegal.achosenman
Well-Known Member
I have spoken at length to various experts including the BASC. The law is clear. It's just urban myth and half truths that confuse the issue.
I had a long chat with two police officers two months ago at 3AM on a minor road. I was tooled up with the .223 including night sight. 7 rounds in the mag, the mag in the rifle, the rifle just lying on the back seat. The wagon was parked by the side of the road on the verge. The farmer owns the verge. I was just opening the gate to drive in when they stopped and enquired what I was doing . We had a chat, they played with the thermal and night vision and asked about the rifle. The WPC gave me her card and mobile number and we went about out respective business.
I got a call a couple of days later from the WPC asking how many foxes I'd nailed.
All very relaxed.
ATB
I had a long chat with two police officers two months ago at 3AM on a minor road. I was tooled up with the .223 including night sight. 7 rounds in the mag, the mag in the rifle, the rifle just lying on the back seat. The wagon was parked by the side of the road on the verge. The farmer owns the verge. I was just opening the gate to drive in when they stopped and enquired what I was doing . We had a chat, they played with the thermal and night vision and asked about the rifle. The WPC gave me her card and mobile number and we went about out respective business.
I got a call a couple of days later from the WPC asking how many foxes I'd nailed.
All very relaxed.
ATB
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
Similar to achorseman and eric above.
I phoned basc scotland and they said it would be no problem for me to drive along back roads with rifle on my back unslipped and underloaded. I have permission on either 1 or both sides of the road and they were quite happy for rifle to be unslipped in those circumstances
Yes if busy road mibee better in a slip but u do have good reason so not nessasary
Like anything legal if any doubt phone basc and ur local firearms dept, cos u read it on a forum will not be a good defence.
I phoned basc scotland and they said it would be no problem for me to drive along back roads with rifle on my back unslipped and underloaded. I have permission on either 1 or both sides of the road and they were quite happy for rifle to be unslipped in those circumstances
Yes if busy road mibee better in a slip but u do have good reason so not nessasary
Like anything legal if any doubt phone basc and ur local firearms dept, cos u read it on a forum will not be a good defence.
badbob
Well-Known Member
The legal issue is " reasonable excuse" which YOU have to prove
doesnt matter if its loaded or not, if its a firearm and you have ammo the offence is complete.
I would suggest people use common sense and not test the
the legal system too much, they could fall foul of it.
one silly phone call can start a whole lot of trouble you might not want.
doesnt matter if its loaded or not, if its a firearm and you have ammo the offence is complete.
I would suggest people use common sense and not test the
the legal system too much, they could fall foul of it.
one silly phone call can start a whole lot of trouble you might not want.
shaun22/250
Well-Known Member
try one of theses http://www.quadbikeswales.co.uk/quad-bike-atv-hard-case-gun-boot-with-fitting-bracket.html if your worried about it not being cased
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