British Vision Issue 39 英国禁止迷你摩托

Well, the Home Secretary John Reid has warned mini-motorbike riders that their machines or mini-motors could be confiscated and crushed in a national crackdown. Offenders² could also find themselves with points on their driving licenses³ even if they are not old enough to currently hold one. Nick Marson explains.

They look like ordinary motorbikes from a distance, until you get up close to them and you realize they are just miniature versions of the real thing. These are called mini-motors and they are marketed as toys except they reach speeds of up to 16 miles an hour. There is no suspension. The majority bit is made of plastic and the police say that they are unsafe and dangerous.

So dangerous in fact that 7 people have died in mini-motor accidents in the last two years, five children and two adults. But this hasn't affected⁴ sales. In 2002, 10,000 were sold. Last year that rose to 100,000.

And one of the reasons why they're so popular is because they are so cheap. You can pick up a bike like this for as little as 100 pounds.

And with popularity brings problems, police have received thousands of complaints from the public this year and now those who ride them illegally on public roads and pavements can be served with anti-social behavior orders, fines or worse.

In an attempt to get to grips with the problem, the government got out the crashers today and warned mini-motor owners to curb⁵ their enthusiasm and stick to private roads and circuits or face losing their bikes to the scrapyard. Home Secretary John Reid handed 200,000 pounds to 28 areas to help fund the crushing programs. In Manchester today he was talking tough.

Don't buy one of these, unless you can guarantee that your child is or, or whoever is using that is gonna have access to a private club, or a private land, because otherwise then there will be fines, there will be penalties and they will be crushed.

Linda Bates' 18-year-old son John died when the mini-motor he was riding crashed into a metal fence. She is backing the government.
They are a death trap. John's left a great void in our lives. And he was my only son and there is nothing going to be replacing, but if they banned the bikes, at least some of the mothers are not gonna, go for angry for.

Today I met the minister for sport Richard Caborn, his dilemma⁶ is balancing the need for safety with the demand for organized facilities for those serious about racing⁷.

If they are used properly off the road, properly controlled conditions, then it is gonna be good activity for kids but the one thing you can not is mix that with obviously the normal population on roads, on paths which is happening now, and that's dangerous.

The government's message today to parents, in the long term, however, could take some time to get through.
----------------------------------------------
confiscate
To seize by or as if by authority. 没收
scrapyard
废品堆放场
death trap
危险场所

1 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

2 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

3 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

6 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

7 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。