MAG BLASTS GOVERNMENT ANTI-TAMPER PROPOSALS

The Department for Transport (DfT) has moved to reassure classic vehicle owners that proposed anti-tamper legislation would not affect them, though the measure could still affect non classic motorcycles and any reassurances might be described as ‘vague’.

A consultation on vehicle tampering was slipped out quietly by the Government but was subsequently widely spread by riders’ rights groups. The DfT said: “We would like to emphasise that our policy intention is to prevent modifications that have a negative impact on road safety, vehicle security and the environment. We do not intend our proposals to prevent legitimate motorsport activities, prevent restoration, repairs or legitimate improvements to vehicles – such as classic cars or motorbikes, or negatively impact businesses involved in these activities.”

Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) vice chair, Ian Churchlow, was quick to point out that customisation of non-classic vehicles is not specifically mentioned.

The group’s Colin Brown added: “While the clarification does provide some reassurance, it falls far short of what we would accept. I am disappointed we have not been supplied with the list of claimed legislative gaps. We see the only sensible solution to be a rejection of the proposals.

“We have asked riders to tell us what modifications they feel are legitimate and should be beyond the remit of any antitampering legislation. Not one respondent suggested they wished to reduce the safety or security of their machine, nor to increase its emissions.”