Proposed EU anti tampering regulation etc.

[Salty]

I haven't noticed mention of the proposed opposition action on here, so:

MAG national demo organised for 24th June.

All the relevant info is here: http://www.euhandsoffbiking.co.uk/

Click to view map full screen.

[Samray]

What exactly are they still protesting about?

http://www.righttoride.eu/?p=9676

[Salty]

The view from MAG:

As we approach 24th June and MAG's day of action, campaigning advances continue to be made, so you may even feel like viewing it as a celebration of what we can achieve.


The horrible article 18(a) of the EU Type Approval Regulation has now been kicked out. Even though the IMCO Committee wanted to make matters worse when it added it, by even restricting what bike shops could do on your behalf, the Commission and the Council (National Governments) have said that wasn't acceptable. Hooray!

The latest, as we reported a couple of weeks ago, is that bikes over 47bhp will be exempt from the whole anti-modification thing as well. This compromise could be another 'hooray!' but... the onus will be entirely placed on the manufacturers to ensure we, the user, physically can't modify our bikes by them using best engineering practice to stop us. The way the text is worded now, it appears we won't be the ones held accountable as we would have been under the earlier text. But there's another but. Why should we sacrifice riders who choose to ride a machine under 47bhp, or what will be the new A2 category of bike in the future? I quite fancy one of those new NC 700 Hondas and that'll make me a candidate.

MAG has always said that anti-tampering beyond that which has existed since the 1990s for mopeds and 125s, is not acceptable, especially when there is no evidence to justify it. Besides, surely if this is all about ensuring safety and emissions control, exempting big bikes rather undermines the argument, so we will continue to press for rational discussion and for some evidence to justify what is being proposed.


You may have read that other organisations believe there is no issue with the proposed EU Regulation. Indeed the BMF even wrote that no part of the proposal was of concern to them except compulsory ABS. Perhaps they believe none of their members have ever fitted an end can, or remapped their ignition, or changed sprocket sizes, but what about the principle of evidence here?

If MAG is so off-track and there is nothing to worry about, why did the EU Ombudsman say that the EU Commission had a case to answer? Why does it believe that the Commission seems to have proposed something without justification and in so doing breached the Treaty of the EU itself?

Would the UK Government bother spending public funds on an impact assessment into the EU proposals if it wasn't concerned? Why did it find that there appears to be no evidence?

Would the Commission state in Annex XVIII of its own proposal that there is no baseline data available to even establish if there is a ‘problem’ with modified bikes being unsafe or harmful to the environment?

Would an MP belonging to the party in Government formally request that the UK consider taking the EU Commission to court and would he be supported by MPs from all other parties?

Would MEPs write to the Commission and demand to see proof that there is justification for these new laws? Not Euro-sceptic MEPs, but Labour and Lib Dem ones.

Would Green MEPs even be talking to us now?

Would the Minister for Transport (Norman Baker) state in writing to the Houses of Parliament, May 17th, that

“The Commission has not published any indicators to support the extension of anti-tampering measures to unrestricted motorcycles as part of their current proposal… The Department’s (DfT) impact assessment could not find evidence to support anti-tampering measures on unrestricted motorcycles and on this basis the (UK) Government has opposed proposals to extend anti-tampering measures to unrestricted motorcycles” (please note, as above, anti-tampering already exists on bikes up to 125cc)

He also said that the EU Commission had now begun a study to see if there is evidence! This proposal has already passed the Committee stage in the EU Parliament. It’s been public for 18 months! 4 Committees examined it, then one (IMCO), voted on amendments and presented a recommendation to the whole Parliament at the start of Jan 2012. At this late stage, a study is underway to ‘find’ evidence. I’m absolutely convinced that it’ll be a study without prejudice, but it’s rather like a defendant being brought before a judge for sentencing and the police saying “oh yes, evidence. Give us a minute".

Remember the Impact Assessment that IMCO commissioned back in November, which ended up finding the wrong answers? Well the consultants, London Economics have had another go at their brief and this time find that there is a slight cost benefit advantage, although they still say there is no ambiguous case for the IMCO ideas of extending ABS to all, or for bringing forward Euro 5 emission controls.


Our Government continues to fight our corner in Brussels and we must continue to get our MEPs to fight for us in the EU Parliament. Don't give up, every letter counts and now we have until the 10th Sept before they vote on this. We can only affect British MEPs and we must trust those in other countries to do the same. A recent FEMA report praised the continued efforts of those riders in the UK who are actively writing letters and keeping up the pressure. That's us, we're leading the way.


June 24th can concentrate the minds of those MEPs in your constituency who haven't yet seemed interested. All your letter writing has really turned the Lib Dems around and that is a real credit to your persistence (OK those of you in the East Mids who are blessed with Mr Newton Dunn have, I know, had a different experience)

June 24th can also be a celebration and acknowledgement of how far we've come from that original EU proposal of October 2010. With our Government behind us a show of strength can act as a boost to them, but blocking the motorways entirely will be wholly counter productive. We need to show that we are an organised lobby so a regimented ride at no less than 40mph is necessary. This, remember, is part of wider campaigning.


We are working on an amendment with MEPs that will be tabled in the EU Parliament to ensure that the wording of Article 18 is acceptable and unambiguous. We will not put our heads in the sand and hope for the best. There is no-one else fighting for riders.

We will continue to battle and with your help justice may just prevail.


MAG remains opposed to anti-modification laws, but we are particularly opposed to laws that have no basis. If this becomes law, a very interesting precedent will have been set and the EU will, I believe, have lost any credibility it may have had.

Please do ride with us on the 24th and remind the bureaucrats and politicians EU Hands Off Biking.

PS T-shirts are still available for only £5. Get a memento, these are interesting times! www.euhandsoffbiking.co.uk
--
Paddy Tyson Campaigns Coordinator Motorcycle Action Group www.mag-uk.org 01926 844064

My cynical inclination to be wary of bureaucrats and politicians ensures that I will be at Charnock Richard Services to support the action.

[D-Rider]

..... I just wish someone would clearly state what the current proposals actually are and exactly what bikes they apply to.

I've yet to see a clear explanation - just different groups giving different viewpoints and none of them particularly clear.

[Samray]

..... I just wish someone would clearly state what the current proposals actually are and exactly what bikes they apply to.

I've yet to see a clear explanation - just different groups giving different viewpoints and none of them particularly clear.

That's a pretty good description of most govt policies.

[Samray]

However, they talked a lot and worked out further compromises which we think are working towards a solution that will be acceptable even for the most sceptical.

http://www.righttoride.eu/?p=9726

[fatboy]

Nice one Sam