RCMP Safety Alert: Illegal Dirt Bike Riding in Campbell River

The Campbell River RCMP are issuing a safety warning to riders and parents about the illegal and dangerous use of gas-powered dirt bikes and high-powered e-dirt bikes in the Campbell River area. Police report a sharp increase in off-road style machines being ridden on public roads, sidewalks, neighbourhood streets, and popular trail systems, creating serious risks for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

This advisory, issued on June 15, 2026, emphasizes that these bikes are not street legal and have recently been involved in multiple near misses with vehicles and people, as well as significant damage to public spaces such as sports fields. RCMP officers are now conducting targeted enforcement and are asking the community to report unsafe or illegal riding.

Official RCMP Details

According to police, both gas-powered dirt bikes and high-powered e-dirt bikes are being used in areas where they are strictly prohibited, including:

• Public roadways and city streets
• Sidewalks and pedestrian routes
• Beaver Lodge trail network
• Willow Creek Conservancy trails
• Residential neighbourhoods and community sports fields

RCMP stress that none of these locations are legal riding areas for dirt bikes or e-dirt bikes. If you live in a residential area and own one of these machines, police indicate the only lawful ways to reach a designated off-road riding area are:

• Pushing the bike to a legal trail access point, or
• Transporting it by truck or trailer

Officers are also seeing confusion between street-legal e-bikes and e-dirt bikes. While approved e-bikes are subject to clear limits (such as a maximum speed of 32 km/h, power not exceeding 500 watts, and functioning pedals), dirt bikes and e-dirt bikes are generally treated as motor vehicles under the BC Motor Vehicle Act. They cannot be used on public roads unless properly licensed, registered, and insured.

Complaints about unsafe operation of small motorized vehicles in Campbell River continue to climb. These complaints include:

• E-bikes
• E-dirt bikes
• Gas dirt bikes
• E-scooters
• Mopeds
• Mini-motorcycles and pocket bikes

Police note that many of the problematic incidents involve youth riders. Some tickets may be issued to the young rider, the registered owner, or in some cases, to parents depending on the age of the youth and their involvement.

Penalties for Illegal Dirt Bike and E-Dirt Bike Use

When officers enforce the BC Motor Vehicle Act in relation to illegal dirt bike or e-dirt bike use on roads or public areas, riders may face the following penalties:

• No insurance – $598
• No driver’s licence – $276 and three penalty points
• No helmet – $138 and two penalty points
• Driving without due care – $368 and six penalty points
• Driving without consideration – $196 and six penalty points
• Seven-day vehicle impoundment
• Stunting-related offences, which may include criminal charges in more serious cases

RCMP add that riders who flee from police are putting themselves and others in extreme danger and can escalate their legal exposure from traffic violations to potential criminal liability. Unlicensed youth can also face consequences that affect future licensing with ICBC.

Request for Community Assistance

The Campbell River RCMP are asking residents to report illegal use of dirt bikes, e-dirt bikes, and mini bikes in their neighbourhoods, on streets, or on trail systems. Community reports are an important tool to reduce risk on local walking trails, bike lanes, and roadways, especially in a city that already tracks detailed safety trends through resources such as the Campbell River Crime Statistics & Safety Report.

If you witness unsafe or unlawful riding involving these vehicles, contact the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

At CrimeCanada.ca, we view this alert as a critical reminder that high-powered off-road machines, when used in urban settings, can quickly turn recreational fun into a serious safety hazard. Collisions with pedestrians, damage to public spaces, and high-speed riding on trails all increase community risk, particularly for children, seniors, and other vulnerable road users. Understanding local patterns of unsafe behaviour—alongside broader data from tools like our Campbell River safety and crime statistics—helps residents advocate for safer streets, trails, and parks.

To help keep the British Columbia community safe, we encourage parents and guardians to verify whether their child’s bike is legal for road use, ensure proper safety gear like helmets is always worn, and review where these machines may be ridden lawfully. Residents should promptly report dangerous riding, avoid confronting riders directly when it is unsafe to do so, and work with schools, community groups, and local law enforcement to reinforce safe, legal riding habits.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the british-columbia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.