New Legislation - a threat to Motorbike Sport

[Steve M]

I spotted this in yesterday's Telegraph Motoring section


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...it/mfbike17.xml

Have a look and draw your own conclusions ...



If you think this is a problem then please act on it..

I've written to my MP ...

Charles Clarke clarkec@parliament.uk

"

The Off-Road Vehicles Registration Bill

Mr Clarke,

I am writing on a matter of great concern to all those who ride motorcycles – a significant number of voters.

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph (Saturday 17th March), Graham Stringer's original bill put forward to control unlicensed "mini-motos" is ill-conceived and badly framed, and now covers every type of bike. As a result it is going to have the effect of stopping all aspects of motorcycle sport in the UK; implemented in it's current form it would wipe out motorcycling as we know it; and that represents a large body of (currently) employed people.

What is even worse it is reported that most MP's seem to be confused as to just what is intended and the affect on the industry and many of their constituents.

The bill needs an amendment such as "All vehicles used in a place to which the public have free and open access must be RTA compliant and carry a registration plate, unless they are participating in an Approved Event".

I would very much appreciate your interest and action in this matter.

Yours Steve Xxxxxxx, 22, The Road, Norwich, NR4 9XX. 01603 ######, Mobile 07900 ######

Article refers: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...it/mfbike17.xml "




-------------------

MAG - The Motorcycle Action Group - have this on their website: It is far more comprehensive ... They do suggest that each letter sent should be individual as "standard" letters do not carry the same weight or impact.



I am writing to you to encourage you to vote against Graham Stringer’s private members bill, the off road vehicles (registration) bill. The bill passed its second reading on Friday 2nd March and has been moved to committee stage.

The intention of the bill is to deal with the problem of illegal and anti social mini moto use. These are in effect miniature motorcycles, imported from China, costing in some cases less than £200. They can never be used legally on the road as they do not meet construction and use and other road traffic law requirements.

I wish to make it clear that I do not in any way condone the anti social and illegal use of these machines and I totally sympathise with those individuals and communities whose quality of life is ruined by the irresponsible individuals who use these machines on common land, private grounds and indeed the public highway.

I would like to stress however, that there are sufficient powers in existence for the police and local authorities to take action against this problem. The problems are highly localized, usually in urban areas already suffering from issues of urban deprivation. These localized problems are therefore best dealt with by way of targeted policing combined with multi agency initiatives and local problem solving. There is an excellent ‘good practice’ guide on the Home Office ‘Respect’ web-site which also outlines the success achieved through effective Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, ( CDRP), working.

I would highlight that the Motorcycle industry’s figures show that the ‘craze’ for these machines may already be on the wane, during 2006 imports fell by 59% over the previous year.

There are already 12 laws in existence which are available to deal with this problem and which are being used to good effect. Most notable being Section 143 and Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which gives the police the powers to seize vehicles they believe are being used without insurance. Section 59 of the Police Reform Act of 2003 allows the police to seize and crush motor vehicles which are being used in an anti social manner.

What is most concerning about the Bill is that it does not differentiate between any of the vehicle types and places where they may be used. In its current form the following sections of the law abiding community will be affected;

Farmers who use quad bikes as an essential tool for their job
Forestry workers
Theme Park workers
Council workers
Legitimate motor sports being conducted under Auto Cycle Union and other governing body rules and regulations which have stood the test of time for many decades, e.g. Trials riding, Grass tracking, Speedway, Moto Cross, Enduro and road racing on purpose built circuits and closed roads such as the Isle of Man TT races.

If the scheme were to be implemented the cost to the tax payer, who would have to fund the systems the DVLA would need to set up the scheme, would be astronomical. There are already problems within the DVLA where driving licence entitlements have been lost and any confidence that a robust scheme could be put into effect is significantly undermined.

These costs could be put to much better use targeting areas of social deprivation through the ‘Respect Agenda’ and targeting the problems where they exist using available resources.

In closing I urge you to vote against this bill. It will not eradicate the problem it is intended to tackle. Instead it would penalize legitimate users off road vehicles who are socially responsible and law abiding. It would place a mill stone of bureaucracy on legitimate motor sports which are already adequately managed. It would create a huge administrative burden and waste scarce financial resources which could be better targeted to the improvement of the quality of life of our communities and which would eradicate this problem using existing resources and existing powers.



Please ensure that your name and address are included as this will add weight.

[Whosthedaddy]

So race bikes should have a V5 and number plate? Whats the big deal?
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Steve M]

[Steve M]

Edit ... WTD decided to delete his entry while I was replying ... so this comment appears out of synch. Ooops

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Imagine the MotoGP bikes with them!

V 46 YAM etc.
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My Flickr

[G]

Also, how will it effect minimotos for those that do use them properly?

It's likely to kill of a lot of the serious use of minimotos which has been around a long time before the cheap chinese ones.

Minimotos and pee-wee motocross are the way that a large number of future champions start their careers.

This legislation isn't going to massively help stop those that illegaly use vehicles - as they won't be displaying plates anyway. Those that do legally and sensibly use bikes off road are going to be seriously inconvenienced which could see the death of the majority of bike based motorsport in the UK over some time.

Not only is this something that I enjoy participating in, but it's something that I believe brings a lot of money in to the UK.
BSS is used as a 'stepping stone' to bigger things for many riders from other countries never mind the many international competitions with rounds held in this country.

[Mudskipper]

Letter sent to my MP. It's 'been received and will be replied to as soon as possible'.

If you don't know who your MP is (I didn't! ) just go to BBC news politics section and enter your postcode in the 'Find your MP' box on the right.

Lets get this nonsense scrapped.

Mudskipper
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Mudskipper]

Right, this is a BIG FUCKIN DEAL, how can no-one have posted since I did at 20 past 2?!??!

We need to sort this out, it's a slippery slope till politicians STOP US RIDING altogether!!!

Come on guys, ditch the apathy and stand up for what you believe in!!!!

Mudskipper
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[.....]

[Mudskipper]

[Steve M]

[Blackwolf]

Yeah but think about it it will be the police who have to enforce it, do you think that they will pull over a moto GP bike in a race for not having a regestation plate

Police wont enforce it
and it wont stop chavs on mini motos

Wolf
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[king kong]

Worth noting also is that even vintage bikes in museums would be deemed as illegal and therefore confiscated because they do not comply with the Off Road vehicles registration Bill, ie not having a liscence plate.
Vintage bike racing would be affected because these old bikes would have to display a plate, affecting their performance, asthetics etc.

[Polarbear]

While I hate legislation with a passion, I also HATE mini motos.

They are the worst abomination to come within the precepts of motorcycling.

They are causing more anti bike feeling amongst the general public than anything associated with biking that I can think of.

Every mini moto should be crushed
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[G]

[Polarbear]

[Silver]

[G]

I'm sure characters like 'Foggy' did a lot for the popularity of biking to the general public at the time.

[MarkJ]

There's an e-petition against the proposed law:
https://petitions.pm.gov.uk/mini-motos/

[JBurrows88]

Signed!


Thats an absolute joke of an bill. I doubt it will ever pass in the state it is now, unless the description of the bill is narrowed!!




____________________
Dave
XJR400 Kenney Roberts Paint Job

[Silver]

Signed.

My trackbike has recently been sold, but that law would mean that the poor bloke who bought it could end up having it crushed...

[.....]

[Zen Dog]