Young motorcyclists and ATV riders join state lawmakers to seek lead-law exemption

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Young riders, parents, state lawmakers and others concerned
about the current federal ban on selling youth dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs) rallied on the steps of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Wednesday,
March 4, to support an exemption to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
(CPSIA) of 2008, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
The press conference that followed was organized by State Rep. Tom Self (R-Cole
Camp), who also sponsored a successful Missouri House resolution urging the Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to "provide a waiver or exclusion for youth ATVs
and motorcycles from the lead limit requirements of the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act."
Under the CPSIA, which took effect Feb. 10, manufacturers, importers, distributors
and retailers are barred from making, importing, distributing or selling any product
intended for children 12 and under that contains more than 600 parts per million
 of lead in any accessible part. According to the CPSC, that includes youth-sized
motorcycles and ATVs, which include lead in such things as batteries, brakes and
 engines. The ban also shelves many parts needed for repair.
The CPSIA greatly concerns the AMA, the industry and the off-highway vehicle (OHV)
community because it encourages parents to put their youngsters on adult-sized OHVs.
There is also great concern for the survival of powersports dealers and their employees,
which are already struggling given the current recession. According to the Motorcycle
Industry Council, the CPSIA could lead to $1 billion in lost economic value annually
for the industry.
"Washington, D.C. tells us that this ban is a result of unintended consequences,
 effectively passing the buck," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government
relations, who spoke at the rally. "That's not good enough. These changes need to
be made now before kids are injured, and thousands of small family-owned businesses
are needlessly put out of business."
Moreland added that it is ironic that the agency with which the AMA and the industry
have spent years developing youth-sized OHV standards is now charged with enforcing
the CPSIA, effectively rendering the standards useless.
"Young riders represent the future of motorcycling and ATVing in America, and shouldn't
be denied their right to ride," he said.
Paul Vitrano, general counsel for the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and
 the MIC, also spoke at the Missouri gathering. He noted that the potential losses
for the powersports industry are massive "at a time when this country cannot afford
additional economic losses." Thousands of small businesses across America are being
hurt by the ban, he added.
Moreland asked all concerned parents and riders nationwide to contact their own
state lawmakers to urge them to pass resolutions like Missouri's, supporting an
exemption to the law banning youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs. They also need to
 contact the members of their federal congressional delegations and the CPSC to
demand that the law be changed to include an exemption, he said.
The easiest way to do this is to go to the Rights section of the AMA website at
www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com and then click Issues and Legislation. There, riders and their parents can contact
lawmakers and the CPSC to voice their concerns.
"Nearly 40,000 people have already used the AMA website to voice their displeasure
to Congress and the CPSC, but we can't stop now, we have to keep up the pressure,"
said Moreland.
Interested parties can also sign up on the AMA website to get e-mail Action Alerts
to learn when action needs to be taken on issues threatening motorcycling and ATV
riding.