CAPITAL REGION — The regional chapter of a national motorcycle organization is threatening to sue New York state to halt random road checks of cyclists and their bikes in response to the increasing number of motorcycle fatalities.

Robert Boellmer, of Preston Hollow in Albany County, is the New England and New York representative of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists.

He said on Monday that notice has been given to state police and the state Department of Motor Vehicles that a class action suit will be filed in protest of the road checks being conducted on state highways during events that draw thousands of motorcyclists.

“We haven’t filed the lawsuit yet, but our lawyer has written letters to several state agencies,” he said.

State police announced Friday that they will be setting up checkpoints on the Northway this week during the Americade Motorcycle Rally in Lake George. The checkpoints are similar to roadside inspections done on commercial trucks and their drivers.

Police said they are looking at safety violations on motorcycles and whether riders have proper licenses.

“We want to raise awareness of motorcycle safety throughout the state,” said Sgt. Daniel Larkin. “Checkpoints will be set up to inspect [for] safety violations including tires, lighting, helmets and operating licenses.”

Statistics show the number of fatal accidents on motorcycles has been on the increase in recent years. At the same time fewer people have been killed in enclosed vehicles.

Maj. William Sprague, commander of state police Troop G, said fatal motorcycle accidents increased 29 percent from 2004 to 2006. More motorcycles on the road, more powerful machines and inexperienced drivers have added to the fatalities, he said.

Police said the stops will check to see that operators are wearing proper safety gear, including helmets, and that they have a motorcycle license.

Boellmer said the checkpoint stops, which began last fall, constitute harassment of cyclists and his group will fight them in court.

“This started last October in Dutchess County on Interstate 84,” Boellmer said. “It continued a couple of weeks ago on I-88 before [the American Motorcycle Jamboree] in Cobleskill.”

He said the decision to have police checkpoints during the Americade motorcycle rally could hurt the tourism business.

“When I talk with people at conventions outside New York and tell them about the police checkpoints, a lot of them say they won’t come to New York any more,” Boellmer said. “That’s going to hurt the economy.”

Warren County Tourism Director Kate Johnson said Americade’s 2007 economic impact in the region was estimated to have been $46 million.

“The rally brought about 50,000 motorcyclists to the area last year,” she said. “The organizers say early registration is down one to two percent this year.”

The decline is being blamed on high gas prices and its negative impact on the economy in general.

“I wasn’t planning to attend Americade this year, but now I have set up a meeting in Lake George with the president of the American Motorcycle Association,” Boellmer said.

That association is one of more than 1,000 motorcycle organizations represented by the coalition,” he said.