Opposition groups fight Off-Road Bill
By TMX Archives on 20th Apr 07
A WIDE ranging group of organisations from all walks of life, which includes the Motor Cycle Industry Association, the National Farmers Union, the Agricultural Engineers Association, the RAC Foundation, the Land Access and Recreational Association, the riders groups MAG and BMF and the Auto Cycle Union have come together in a coalition to lobby against a Parliamentary Private Members Bill - known as The Off Road Vehicles (Registration) Bill and previously well-recorded in T+MX - which seeks to force all off-road motorcycles and quadricycles to be registered and carry number plates.
The Bill, proposed by Graham Stringer MP has beenput forward against a background of strong public concern about theillegal use of motorcycles in public places by mainly young anti-socialelements of society. The problem has been fuelled in recent years bythe rise in the number of cheap Chinese imports of mini motos and pitbikes'.
However, the number of imports of very cheapChinese bikes fell by around 59 per cent in 2006 against a backdrop ofeffective police and community action against illegal motorcycling bythe Home Office, the Police and the industry. Where enforcementcampaigns have taken place, public complaints have fallen by as much as80 per cent.
The coalition of organisations strongly sharespublic concerns about illegal motorcycling but is arguing that new lawsare not needed when riding a motorcycle illegally, particularly anunregistered mini moto, in a public place can break in excess of adozen existing laws. Instead, the array of existing laws needs toenforced far more effectively than they are at present.
The coalition is particularly concerned that MrStringer's Bill has unintended consequences that would have wideeffects on off-road motorcycle sport and motorcycles, quadricycles andall terrain vehicles (ATVs) used for agricultural purposes. Motorracing would also be affected, with Kart tracks and Kart owners beingrequired to register machines and fit number plates, with this addingfurther bureaucracy and cost.
The impact on off-road motor sports would alsohave a knock-on effect on farmers and landowners who provide land forthese events under farm diversification. The new rules could affect theviability of these activities and thus reduce or remove valuable incomestreams from farm businesses. The requirement to display number plateson agricultural ATVs would also be impractical and an unnecessaryfurther imposition on farm businesses.
Huge costs are implied by the proposedregistration scheme and the creation of a massive bureaucracy toadminister the system. Costs and additional legal requirements wouldpass onto legitimate owners of competition and working machines whilein the meantime there would be little effect on the core problem ofanti social behaviour. Illegal users would simply remove number platesand other identification marks, much as they do at present!
The Bill recently received its Second Reading inParliament, despite strong opposition from both the Government andConservative Front Benches. The Bill will go before Committee foramendment before returning to the floor of the House of Commons for itsReport Stage and Third Reading vote.
The coalition of groups are calling for the Billto either be rejected at Third Reading, or for MPs to amend it so thatlegitimate off-road motorcycle and quadricycle users do not need toface cumbersome, expensive and ineffective regulation.
T+MX readers are urged to contact their local MPto declare their opposition to the Bill. A suggested letter ofcomplaint is printed on the MCIA website - www.mcia.co.uk, click onCampaigns then click on Off-Road Vehicles.