Top-level support for a bid to crack down on nuisance caused by off-road motorbikes was disclosed today in the Commons. Labour's Graham Stringer said Tony Blair himself had told him this week that it would be "crazy" not to support his backbench Bill. "I think with support like that the Bill should get a second reading today."
Mr Stringer (Manchester Blackley) was opening debate on his Off-Road Vehicles (Registration) Bill, which introduces a compulsory registration scheme for off-road bikes, like mini-bikes, trikes and quads.
Last year alone there were 26,000 complaints about nuisance caused - amounting to 40% of all complaints nationally about anti-social behaviour.
Off-road bikes were responsible for one death a month and the destruction of public recreation areas. The problem was getting worse as sales soared, with up to 200,000 now in circulation, Mr Stringer told MPs.
"This is a serious, acute and chronic problem. These machines cannot be taxed or insured because they are not meant to go onto the road. But virtually all of these machines, at some time, do end up on the road.
"It is not that people are doing this in good faith and don't know how to use the machines. It is the direct intention of some of the vendors and purchasers of these machines to cause a nuisance."
Mr Stringer said his Bill had been drawn up with the support of the Greater Manchester Police and had the backing of newspapers including the Daily Mirror and the Manchester Evening News.
Under the Bill, people selling the bikes would have to ensure it passed certain registration standards and the person buying the bike would have to be registered as the keeper.
Related News
