WHAT do the Motor Cycle Industry Assoc-iation, National Farmers' Union, Agricultural Engineers Association, RAC Foundation, Land Access and Recreational Association, riders' groups MAG and BMF and the Auto Cycle Union have in copmmon?

The answer is that they are some of the organisations from all walks of life that have united in a coalition to lobby against a Parliamentary Private Member's Bill which seeks to force all off-road motorcycles and quads to be registered and carry number plates.

The Bill, proposed by Graham Stringer MP, has been put forward against a background of strong public concern about the illegal use of motorcycles in public places by mainly young and anti-social members of society.

The problem has been fuelled in recent years by the rise in the number of cheap Chinese imports of mini motos and pit bikes'.

Please note that not all owners of those bikes are being antisocial - just a small and noticeable element.

In the bad old days' of biking there used to be a saying "When we do right no one remembers, when we do wrong no one forgets" - same here.

However, the number of imports of very cheap Chinese bikes fell by about 59 per cent in 2006 against a backdrop of effective police and community action against illegal motorcycling by the Home Office, the police and the industry.

Where enforcement campaigns have taken place, public complaints have fallen by as much as 80 per cent.

The coalition of organisations shares public concern about illegal motorcycling but is arguing that new laws are not needed.

Riding a motorcycle illegally, particularly an unregistered mini moto in a public place, breaks in excess of a dozen existing laws.

Instead, the array of existing laws can be enforced far more effectively than they are at present.

The coalition is particularly concerned that Mr Stringer's Bill has unintended consequences that would have wide effects on off-road motorcycle sport, motorcycles, quads and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) used for agricultural purposes.

Motor racing would also be affected, with kart tracks and kart owners being required to register machines and fit number plates, thereby adding further bureaucracy and cost to the breeding ground of Formula One racing (and how much advertising space would it consume in that?!).

The impact on off-road motor sports would also have a knock-on effect on farmers and landowners who provide land for these events under farm diversification.

Huge costs are implied by the proposed registration scheme and the creation of a massive bureaucracy to administer the system.

Costs and additional legal requirements would pass on to legitimate owners of competition and working machines while in the meantime there would be little effect on the core problem of anti-social behaviour.

Illegal users would simply remove number plates and other identification marks, much as they do at present.

The Bill recently received its Second Reading in Parliament, despite strong opposition from both the Government and Conservative front benches. The Bill will go before Committee for amendment before returning to the floor of the House of Commons for its Report Stage and Third Reading vote.

The coalition of groups are calling for the Bill to either be rejected at Third Reading, or for MPs to amend it so that legitimate off-road motorcycle and quad users do not need to face cumbersome, expensive and ineffective regulation.

Extra laws only seem to effect the law-abiding.

Tell your MP what you think.