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SACRAMENTO – A bill designed to fight bicycle theft by allowing the registration of bikes on the Internet has been vetoed by Gov. Gray Davis, who said the measure raises privacy concerns. 

The bill, by Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, would have authorized cities and counties to allow their residents to register their bicycles and get bicycle licenses using an Internet service. 

Bill supporters said that would encourage more people to register their bicycles, which would reduce their value to thieves and make it easier for the police to track down the owners of stolen bicycles if they’re recovered. 

Less than 5 percent of recovered bicycles are returned to their owners now, largely because they aren’t registered even though about 80 percent of local governments require registration. 

Davis, however, said the bill lacked guidelines to protect bicycle owners’ privacy. He also worried that variations in cities’ databases would make it difficult for police to use the Internet to track down bike owners. 

Davis also said that he signed a bill by Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-San Fernando, that will require that local special-tax ballot measures include a statement disclosing the purpose of the tax.