The United Bermuda Party has claimed the Premier removed sentences from a controversial bike bill due in the House today without providing the Opposition with an updated copy.

Opposition Transport spokesman Michael Fahy held a press conference yesterday, where he spoke out against the Auxiliary Bicycles Amendment Act, which he said threatened to jail teen riders for breaking a curfew as well as parents who let them. He said the bill could see an offender being fined $300, having five to seven points deducted from their licence and getting a discretionary six months in prison – a punishment he called "draconian".

The Premier issued a statement following Sen. Fahy's comments, saying: "there is no reason to believe teen riders or their parents will be jailed as a result of the proposed Auxiliary Bicycles Amendment Act."

"There is no new penalty measure in this proposed legislation," Dr. Ewart Brown said.

However, last night Sen. Fahy claimed some amendments to the controversial bill had been dropped following a Progressive Labour Party caucus on Wednesday night, namely the removal of any reference to jail terms.

He said that the version in the UBP's possession "makes it quite clear that persons that 'cause or allow' a young person to ride an auxiliary cycle between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. could be found guilty of an offence".

"The amendment also says that there is a discretionary jail term of 12 months for this.

"The bill also provides for a discretionary jail term of six months if a young person is found guilty of riding their auxiliary cycle during curfew hours," Sen. Fahy said.

"It is our understanding that amendments to the Bill as it currently stands, will be presented to the House today given a reportedly conciliatory approach taken by the Premier in the PLP caucus as reported on Thursday evening," he said. "Given the press release from the Cabinet office it would appear that such sentences have quite correctly been dropped from the agenda. We welcome this development."

Earlier, Sen. Fahy said the Opposition intended to put forward a number of amendments to the Bill which targets those with "the highest accident rates in Bermuda", 16- to 18-year-olds.

He said the UBP supported Government making participation in the driver's education programme Project Ride mandatory under the Act, but said the programme didn't go far enough.

"Having done research in various other jurisdictions their programmes go further and the road test itself goes much further."

He said more Police on the roads would help change driving culture, particularly if they had the powers to do random drunk tests. Last week the Premier failed to move the Gaming Bill, to allow gambling on cruise ships, after threats that rebel PLP MPs would block it again.

The bill remains on the order paper but is not thought likely to be moved today. Similarly the Civil Airports Amendment Act 2009 lies on the order paper but is not likely to be debated today.

It would give the Transport Minister power to grant leases of up to 21 years without parliamentary approval, while leases between 21 years and 120 years must go before the House.

Backbench PLP MPs think 21 years is far too long without any parliamentary oversight.

Asked whether the continual failure to get his bills through could lead to a vote of no confidence in Dr. Brown, Sen. Fahy said: "That remains to be seen."

However one PLP rebel in the group out to oust Dr. Brown played down that likelihood, saying they were looking for an orderly transition.

"Doing anything in Parliament is risky, perhaps the person selected might not be the person you wanted. It's a pretty sloppy position, you don't want that to happen. If the leader doesn't want to step down, you have just got to keep the pressure up until something happens."

The MP said the rebels were in for the long haul in trying to oust Dr. Brown who they deem vindictive, embarrassing and a threat to democracy. "There is no evaporation of dislike for the leadership. There is no kissing or making up at this point."

Electronic media have speculated that Dr. Brown could be seeking to replace rebel MPs and seek more amenable candidates, perhaps even call a snap election, but the MP said he was unaware of any such moves afoot.

Another PLP backbencher, who also wished to remain anonymous, argued that Dr. Brown has repeatedly stated he only wants one term as Premier and an election, staked on his popularity, would be risky given his poor poll ratings.

However it's thought moves might be being made against Ashfield DeVent and Randy Horton. Mr. Horton lost to Marc Bean by eight votes to one in a selection process by the Southampton West PLP branch before the last election. But an intervention by the PLP hierarchy kept Mr. Horton as candidate.