The Motorcycle Action Group has launched an e petition on the 10 Downing St site to challenge over zealous police reaction to alleged risks at motorcycle events.
The petition follows a parliamentary question on the subject that MAG member Lembit Opik MP tabled in Parliament earlier this year.
MAG is concerned by the apparent enthusiasm displayed for closing events on the basis of information about criminal intent which police are not obliged to share with event organisers.
MAG President Ian Mutch said, ‘I suspect that the police are themselves victims of a health and safety culture which is leading them to pick the safe option of closing events to avoid becoming targets of criticism if something goes wrong.’
‘It is intolerable that event organisers should face financial ruin because of factors that are not of their making. We feel that if organisers are eligible for compensation under such circumstances then pressure may be exerted on the police which could restore balance to a situation which appears to be getting out of control.’
The petition reads as follows:
Criminal compensation
Compensate fully the innocent organisers of public events where police have achieved cancellation based on undisclosed 'intelligence received' regarding the potential criminal actions of parties unrelated to the event organiser.
To sign the petition, go here:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Eventsatrisk/
MAG-UK
Showing posts with label nanny government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nanny government. Show all posts
Monday, 20 April 2009
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
No Chips for Bikers
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) abandons proposals to chip motorcycle number plates.
The DVLA have announced that they will not be seeking government approval to fit micro chip Electronic Vehicle Identification, (EVI) to motorcycle number plates. The DVLA had embarked on a feasibility study, including field trials, to determine the effectiveness of EVI as a means of combating motorcycle vehicle excise evasion.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) was consulted on the project and voiced concerns that the cost to introduce such a system would far outweigh the monies recouped in excise duty. MAG also expressed concern that the proposal to single out motorcycles was discriminatory.
In a report released by the DVLA today the conclusion to the study is that the cost of introducing EVI for all motorcycles would cost in the region of ñ00 million and would only provide a return of approximately ò7 million for HM treasury. The report concludes that advances in ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology render the use of EVI unnecessary.
The report comes days after the DVLA issued an apology for wrongly estimating the level of motorcycle VED evasion at 40%, a gross overestimation of the actual rate which is 6%.
MAG Campaigns Manager said, ԉ am pleased that common sense has prevailed and that the DVLA has listened to and acted on motorcyclists concerns. EVI was a sledgehammer to crack a nut and the proposals to only include motorcyclists is discriminatory. MAG does not in any way condone motorcyclists who choose to ride their bikes without tax and will continue to work with motorcyclists, government, the police and the DVLA to eradicate VED evasion.
For further information or comment contact:
David Short
Email campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation
www.mag-uk.org
The DVLA have announced that they will not be seeking government approval to fit micro chip Electronic Vehicle Identification, (EVI) to motorcycle number plates. The DVLA had embarked on a feasibility study, including field trials, to determine the effectiveness of EVI as a means of combating motorcycle vehicle excise evasion.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) was consulted on the project and voiced concerns that the cost to introduce such a system would far outweigh the monies recouped in excise duty. MAG also expressed concern that the proposal to single out motorcycles was discriminatory.
In a report released by the DVLA today the conclusion to the study is that the cost of introducing EVI for all motorcycles would cost in the region of ñ00 million and would only provide a return of approximately ò7 million for HM treasury. The report concludes that advances in ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology render the use of EVI unnecessary.
The report comes days after the DVLA issued an apology for wrongly estimating the level of motorcycle VED evasion at 40%, a gross overestimation of the actual rate which is 6%.
MAG Campaigns Manager said, ԉ am pleased that common sense has prevailed and that the DVLA has listened to and acted on motorcyclists concerns. EVI was a sledgehammer to crack a nut and the proposals to only include motorcyclists is discriminatory. MAG does not in any way condone motorcyclists who choose to ride their bikes without tax and will continue to work with motorcyclists, government, the police and the DVLA to eradicate VED evasion.
For further information or comment contact:
David Short
Email campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation
www.mag-uk.org
Friday, 25 January 2008
Home Office - Misery – Costs – Inconvenience to Bikers
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) have expressed their serious
concerns to the Home Office regarding their proposals to increase, by
almost 300%, the statutory charges for the removal, storage and disposal
of motorcycles by the police.
Under the current arrangements the police can charge £105 for the
recovery of a motorcycle considered to be abandoned illegally,
dangerously or obstructively parked, or broken down. They can then
charge up to £12 a day for storage until the motorcycle is reclaimed by
its rightful owner.
Under new Home Office proposals bikers would be charged £300 for the
recovery of the machine and £15 per day storage. This will not only
affect riders involved in road crashes but will also affect those who
have had their motorcycle stolen and subsequently recovered, adding to
the misery, cost and inconvenience to the owner.
Responding to the consultation which closes today, Friday the 25th
January MAG has highlighted the totally unjustified 300% increase and
brought to the attention of the Home Office failures in communication
between the police, insurers, and the recovery companies which results
in unnecessary delays in the release of impounded bikes and escalating
costs incurred by the biker.
David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager, says, “The proposed charges are
totally out of proportion to reality and the increase from the current
£105 to £300 is totally unjustified.”
“There are too many examples of bikers who have been victims of
motorcycle theft who have then had huge recovery and storage costs
charged by the police because of a lack of communication between the
police and the victim of the crime.”
“This also applies to bikers who have been involved in road crashes and
who have not had the opportunity to make their own arrangements to
recover their crashed bike”
“MAG will be making the strongest representations to have these proposed
rip off charges consigned to the bin”
Notes
1. Proposed Charges
http://www.network.mag-uk.org/documents/071221Home_Office_letter.pdf
2. View Original Consultation
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/stat-charges-index
For further information contact:
David Short
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
www.mag-uk.org
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Tar Barrels Ottery St Mary 2005
Been having some issues sending posts from Youtube... hmm all Google owned but cannot talk to each other ... So embeded this.
This is a "folk tradition" in Devon , that appears to havce started in the late 17th Century. The real reason for it has been lost in antiquity , so to speak, but makes for a great Bonfire Night.
Sadly it has become very popular with the "backpacker" crowd and students. I got to know about it as Jules is from the next town over and went when she was a child. You cannot take children into this crowd now.
Sadly the event is in peril every year as the "safety nazis" and "nanny government" try to stop people doing things tio harm themselves. Humans love danger, and this is the closest you could ever get in this country to running with the bulls in Pampalona.
People often ask us why we prefere to tour Europe rather than the UK, and the reason is , it's more fun! Bikes are given respect on the road and are allowed to be reasonably parked anywhere. Businesses welcome bikers, and events are not regulated to the point that the fun is drained from them.
So this year the tunnel tickets are booked and our second trip to Europe will be to the Stella Alpina Rally on the French/Italian border.
This is a "folk tradition" in Devon , that appears to havce started in the late 17th Century. The real reason for it has been lost in antiquity , so to speak, but makes for a great Bonfire Night.
Sadly it has become very popular with the "backpacker" crowd and students. I got to know about it as Jules is from the next town over and went when she was a child. You cannot take children into this crowd now.
Sadly the event is in peril every year as the "safety nazis" and "nanny government" try to stop people doing things tio harm themselves. Humans love danger, and this is the closest you could ever get in this country to running with the bulls in Pampalona.
People often ask us why we prefere to tour Europe rather than the UK, and the reason is , it's more fun! Bikes are given respect on the road and are allowed to be reasonably parked anywhere. Businesses welcome bikers, and events are not regulated to the point that the fun is drained from them.
So this year the tunnel tickets are booked and our second trip to Europe will be to the Stella Alpina Rally on the French/Italian border.
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