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BMF says tracking bikers is just plain EVI
Plans to fit tracking devices to bikers' number plates as a deterrent to crime would simply be a waste of money, according to the British Motorcyclists' Federation (BMF).
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority recently debated the possibility of installing electronic vehicle identification (EVI) on license plates as a way of keeping tabs on riders involved in tax evasion and other criminal activities.
In response, the BMF argued that this was a breach of civil liberties, as it will involve tracking motorcyclists who have done nothing wrong, while riders whose bikes are stolen or cloned might end up being penalised instead of the perpetrator.
Government relations executive Chris Hodder explained: "While the BMF understands the problem, EVI is not the solution.
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"It would not only be expensive to introduce but be largely ineffective in deterring the criminal and would only serve to monitor the honest and law-abiding. We are fundamentally opposed to EVI and will vigorously resist any attempts to introduce such a scheme."
Instead, the BMF believes the cash that would be invested in EVI should be spent on putting more officers on the road instead, claiming that more frequent stop checks are the only way to catch out riders of bikes that are stolen or under a false identity.
Nonetheless, the issue of road-tax dodging among bikers remains a problematic one, with recent figures from the National Audit Office indicating that more than a third of all motorcyclists did not pay this duty last year.
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