Is this a joke (now illegal to sell children's motorcycles)

[ejcycles]

UPDATE: H.R. 412 Introduced to Help Save Kids' OHVs!
Contact your Representative to Cosponsor Today!
January 25, 2011

Update Hr 412 Introduced To Help Save Kids Ohvs Ama Action Alert Logo
On Jan. 25, Representative Denny Rehberg (MT) introduced H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act of 2011, which would exempt kids' off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 that effectively bans their sale beginning May 1. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) strongly supports this bipartisan effort and is urging everyone to contact their Representative to become a cosponsor today.

H.R. 412 is the most promising and viable legislative remedy available to permanently exclude kid-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the unintended consequences of the CPSIA.

The AMA thanks the countless concerned enthusiasts that have already contacted their Representatives to support this legislation. However, we are facing a fast-approaching May 1 stay of enforcement deadline and you must continue to contact your member of Congress to help the Kids Just Want to Ride Act of 2011 move toward passage.

You and everyone you know that is concerned with the future of youth riding needs to contact your Representative and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act of 2011.

You can write your member of Congress by following the " Take Action " option and sending a letter directly to their office in Washington, DC. You can also call your Representative by clicking here.

Tell your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act of 2011 immediately.


Link here> http://www.capwiz.com/amacycle/calla...895501&type=CO

[ejcycles]

11NR06 - MRF News Release - The Kids Just Want to Ride!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 January 2011

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs


The Kids Just Want to Ride!

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is in support of legislation recently introduced that would allow just that. U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT) introduced HR412 earlier this week. This bill would exempt youth motorcycles and ATVs from the current lead ban on children's toys.

“Here again, a law meant to improve children’s safety is actually being enforced in a way that puts kids in more danger than ever, while destroying jobs to boot,” said Rehberg. “It’s critical that we put to rest any confusion once and for all so kids can just get outside and ride. There’s no excuse for continued bungling that only stops kids from using the very youth-sized off-road vehicles that are intended to keep them safe.”

The MRF urges you to call your U.S. Representative and ask him/her to join the bipartisan group of co-sponsors for HR412. You can reach the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING

This week in Washington DC, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) held its annual meeting which offered the opportunity for the Motorcycle and Moped Committee (MMC) to meet as well. The TRB is a group of academics, governments, and private organizations from around the world that meet to discuss essentially every aspect of transportation. The MMC is an advisory committee to the TRB to review academic papers and share information. Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs, is a sitting member of the MMC and represents the MRF at each TRB meeting. This year several topics were addressed that are worth mentioning.

First, it seems to be the year of the naturalistic study. The French government has completed one; and as previously reported by the MRF, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation/Motorcycle Industry Council will be doing a naturalistic study as well. Both studies will or did use volunteers and their motorcycles outfitted with cameras, GPS, and data recorders, along with a slew of sensors to measure what the motorcycle does for a set amount of time ranging from six months to a year.

It has been determined that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) federally-funded motorcycle crash study will now be implemented only in Orange County, CA and will investigate only up to 240 crashes. Results will be available 36 months after data collection ends.

A scan of European motorcycle safety programs, laws and infrastructure was recently completed by a team of government types and private groups. The scan revealed some interesting results. The team found out that most of the countries in Europe had very similar ratios with regard to the number of motorcycles on the roads vs. fatalities. In the United States, motorcycles represent about 3 percent of the vehicles on the road, and average about 10 percent of the fatalities each year. In Europe, the ratios for most countries are nearly identical to those in the United States, even though Europe has mandatory helmet laws and graduated licensing, not to mention the fact that it costs about $1000 to get a motorcycle license.

As always, the MRF will keep you up to date on all happenings in Washington DC that affect street motorcyclists.

[Weldangrind]

Thanks for the update Bruce.

[katoranger]

Thanks Bruce, will be sending my congressman an email.

ATVs are a big deal in GA.

Allen

[ejcycles]

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews...tegoryId=48447

AMA: 50 lawmakers now support The Kids Just Want to Ride Act
Publish date: Mar 3, 2011

The following is a press release of the American Motorcyclist Association.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Legislation that would exempt kids’ dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from the “lead law” that effectively bans them at the end of the year is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

There are now 50 co-sponsors to H.R. 412: The Kids Just Want to Ride Act, which was introduced by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.). The bill seeks to exempt kids’ off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which is also known as the lead law.

The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. It also requires all children’s products undergo periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is responsible for implementing the law.

The CPSC has delayed enforcing key portions of the law until after the end of the year. Unless the CPSIA is changed by then, the sale of child-sized dirtbikes and ATVs will effectively be banned.

”As a motorcycling enthusiast myself for many years, I fully respect the importance of improving the safety of kids who ride off-highway motorcycles and ATVs,” said Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), one of the latest co-sponsors. “But this is just another example of regulations creating the exact opposite effect of their original intent. This law actually makes kids less safe by eliminating appropriately sized off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, and forces young riders onto larger and more powerful machines not designed for them.

”I’m proud to support the Kids Just Want to Ride Act and know that it will keep youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs available for safe and responsible use as they are intended,” Ribble said.

Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.), another co-sponsor, said: “The Kids Just Want to Ride Act will fix the illogical mandate of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and will once again allow our children to safely enjoy outdoor recreational vehicles. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this common-sense legislation to protect our youth while working to create jobs.”

Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations, thanked lawmakers for their bipartisan backing of the bill. He noted it’s important to get as many co-sponsors as possible to increase the bill’s chances of passage.

Moreland urged all concerned riders and parents to contact their federal lawmakers to ask for support.

The easiest way to contact lawmakers is through the Rights section of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

In addition to Ribble and Landry, the latest co-sponsors of the Kids Just Want to Ride bill include Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Mark Critz (D-Pa.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), John Kline (R-Minn.), Tom Latham (R-Iowa), Pete Olson (R-Texas), Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).

For more information, go to http://capwiz.com/amacycle/go/HR412.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

[Weldangrind]

Some encouraging co-sponsor comments! It looks like it's moving in the right direction.

[jerrodwagner]

All honda did when this went into effect is sent new stickers to put on the crf50's 70's and trx90's that say " no riders under the age 12" and new owners manuals that say the same. I can promice you that if someone walks into the dealer with cash in hand they will sell the bike, but make you sign a paper that says " i am aware that this vehicle is not for use by anyone for under the age of 12 ". The simple fact is there is no way to police this...period

[ejcycles]

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews...rats-find-comm...

Republicans, Democrats find common ground for fixing the CPSIA lead ban


Publish date: Apr 7, 2011


The Motorcycle Industry Council today issued this press release following MIC General Counsel Paul Vitrano's testimony before Congress on ways to stop the ban on youth ATVs and motorcycles tied to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA):

Republicans and Democrats agreed with Motorcycle Industry Council’s (MIC) General Counsel Paul Vitrano, who testified at a Congressional hearing today that Members of Congress should quickly pass legislation to stop the ban on youth-sized all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles caused by the unintended consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

The hearing, held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, focused on a discussion draft of a bill to amend the CPSIA

During the hearing there was bipartisan agreement that ATVs and motorcycles should not have been included in The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), a law that was intended to protect children from ingesting lead from toys, and that off-highway vehicles should be excluded from the law's lead provisions.

Dr. Barbara Beck from Gradient Corp. confirmed at the hearing that the lead content in metal parts of ATVs and motorcycles poses no risk to kids, and that, in fact, the lead intake from kids’ interaction with metal parts is less than the lead intake from drinking a glass of water.

The lead provision has had an unintended consequence resulting in a ban on youth-sized ATVs and off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) because the vehicles contain small amounts of lead that are critical to the functionality of certain components and created unsafe situations for young riders by reducing the availability of appropriately-sizes, speed-restricted youth models.

At the hearing, Vitrano urged the committee to ensure that any fix to the CPSIA stops the unintended ban on ATVs and off-highway motorcycles. “We appreciate that the Subcommittee has offered an initial draft bill,” Vitrano testified. “Within the framework of the draft bill, the only way to stop the ban on youth ATVs and motorcycles with certainty is to amend the range of children’s products – at least for these vehicles – to age 6 and under. Alternatively, we ask you to consider adding a categorical exemption to the bill.”

Vitrano asked that the Subcommittee to consider the following points as they work towards providing the industry with much needed relief.

Everyone agrees that the key to keeping youth safe on ATVs and motorcycles is having them ride the right-sized vehicles. By reducing the availability of these vehicles, the CPSIA has created – in the CPSC’s own words - a “more serious and immediate risk of injury or death” than any risk from lead exposure."

In 2009, MIC estimated that a complete ban on youth model vehicles would result in about $1 billion in lost economic value in the retail marketplace every year.

Motorcycles and ATVs are motor-powered machines, not toys or other articles kids wear or play with, so the extent and nature of children’s interaction with the products is materially different. As Congress knows, kids do not lick tailpipes or swallow battery terminals. Young riders typically only touch a few parts of the vehicles, like handlebars and brake and clutch levers, and usually with gloved hands.

ATVs and dirt bikes are stored outside the house, usually in garages, sheds or barns, and thus are much less likely than household items to be touched by young children. In addition to being remotely located, the vehicles have keys and use is controlled and supervised by parents.

Vitrano also testified that the powersports industry supports recommended changes to the CPSIA database provisions.

“One of our members recently received a report of harm where a rider, who had been drinking prior to riding his ATV, rode off a cliff at night in the dark,” Vitrano noted. “Nothing in the report indicated any problem with the ATV. But because the CPSC database on its face only accepts reports of 'unsafe' products, the inclusion of this report will result in the ATV implicitly being classified as an 'unsafe' product.”

Vitrano concluded, “Unless Congress acts, the database will become a repository of inaccurate information that defames manufactures and misleads consumers.”

Following the hearing, Vitrano said, “I would like to thank Chair Bono Mack and the Subcommittee for taking on this important issue. For the safety of children who ride youth ATVs and motorcycles, we encourage Congress to act swiftly to move legislation forward that would end the ban."

[Weldangrind]

During the hearing there was bipartisan agreement that ATVs and motorcycles should not have been included in The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), a law that was intended to protect children from ingesting lead from toys, and that off-highway vehicles should be excluded from the law's lead provisions.

Excellent news!

[ejcycles]

Congress makes progress in stopping the lead ban for youth dirtbikes, ATVs
Publish date: May 13, 2011

Draft legislation that would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission the ability to ease the lead ban on youth motorcycles and ATVs has been passed by a key subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade on May 12 passed the draft bill, called the Enhancing CPSC Authority and Discretion Act of 2011 (ECADA), and referred it to the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

The draft bill was sponsored by Subcommittee Chair Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) in an effort to reform parts of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that have essentially derailed the youth ATV and off-road motorcycle market in recent years due to restrictions on lead content in the vehicles.

The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or sales of any product intended for children 12 years and under if it contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. Created to regulate the amount of lead in children's toys and other products, it had further consequences by applying the regulation to youth off-road vehicles.

ECADA would exempt youth off-road motorcycle and ATV battery terminals from the lead-content limits of the CPSIA. "It also may allow exemptions to the lead-content portion of the law for OHV parts under certain conditions," according to the American Motorcyclist Association, which applauded the subcommittee's passage of the draft legislation.

"... ECADA is a step in the right direction," said Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president-government relations. "We are hopeful that the final legislation will fully address the problem with an outright exemption, like the one in HR 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act," which is endorsed by the organization.

The Motorcycle Industry Council on May 12 issued a statement, thanking "Mary Bono Mack for her leadership on reform of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and her support for clear, complete and permanent relief for the powersports industry and riders."

“While we continue to believe that the best way to ensure the continued availability of youth off-highway vehicles is to categorically exclude them from the lead-content provisions, this proposed legislation, if enacted as drafted, would provide welcome relief and improve safety," wrote MIC general counsel Paul Vitrano in a http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews...tegoryId=48447 to the subcommittee.

Following Thursday's Subcommittee mark-up, Vitrano added, “MIC and its members reiterate their strong support for ECADA and urge its quick passage by the Energy and Commerce Committee.”

To view a copy of the ECADA discussion draft and its progress, click here. http://energycommerce.house.gov/news...px?NewsID=8585

[ejcycles]

Federal funding language would block 'lead law' enforcement, says AMA
Publish date: Jun 17, 2011

A key federal agency cannot enforce a ban on the sale of kids' dirtbikes and ATVs under language inserted into a federal government funding measure in Congress, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

On June 16, Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) was successful in inserting language into the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, that prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from using money to enforce lead-content limits on kids' off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

The limits are contained in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, which is known as the lead law. The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. It also requires all children's products to undergo periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the CPSC, which is responsible for implementing the law. Kid-sized dirtbikes and ATVs contain amounts of lead that exceed the parts-per-million levels allowed under the CPSIA.

The CPSC has delayed enforcing key portions of the law until after the end of the year. Unless the CPSIA is changed by then, the sale of child-sized dirtbikes and ATVs will effectively be banned.

The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill provides annual funding for several key federal government agencies, including the CPSC. If the full House eventually adopts the language, then it still needs to clear the Senate before the bill goes to the president to be signed into law.

"While the original legislation was intended to keep kids safe from lead content in toys, the overreaching enforcement wound up putting them at risk by forcing them to use larger, more dangerous machines that are intended only for adults," said Rehberg, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "While I'm working on a permanent fix to get rid of this dangerous regulation, my appropriations language will buy more time," he said.

Rehberg was referring to H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, which he introduced to exempt kids' OHVs from the lead-content restrictions of the CPSIA.

Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO, thanked Rehberg for his efforts. "This language is an important step in efforts to lift the ban on the sale of kid-sized dirtbikes and ATVs imposed by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008," Dingman said. "America's young riders need to be able to ride appropriately sized machines to help them stay safe. If those machines aren't available, then they may ride bigger machines that may be difficult for them to control.

"Small businesses that sell small off-highway vehicles also suffer under the CPSIA," he said. "For the safety of children, and for the health of small businesses, the AMA strongly urges the adoption of this language."

To urge your federal lawmakers to support the Rehberg language in the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, and to support H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...ueslegislation.

[ejcycles]

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews...tegoryId=48474

[b]Congress approves bill to exempt youth motorcycles, ATVs from lead law
Publish date: Aug 1, 2011

Both houses of Congress have voted to exempt youth ATVs and motorcycles from the lead law that essentially bans the sale of those machines at the end of the year.

The legislation, H.R. 2517, categorically excludes powersports vehicles from the lead content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The bill goes to President Obama for signature.

"For more than two years, the powersports industry and its riders have urged Congress to categorically exclude youth dirtbikes and ATVs from the CPSIA’s lead content provisions,” said Paul Vitrano, general counsel of the MIC. “We are most grateful that our collective voices finally have been heard. We wish to thank Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) for sponsoring the bill and Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) and Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) for leading the effort to enact the categorical exclusion.”

The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. It also requires all children's products undergo periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is responsible for implementing the law.

The CPSIA was designed to ban small toys with high lead content. But because of broadly written language in the law, it has been interpreted to apply to all products for kids 12 and under, including dirtbikes, ATVs, bicycles, clothing and books.

"This is excellent news for families around the nation who enjoy responsible motorized recreation," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO, after the House initially passed the bill on Monday. "It is vital that a lead-law exemption for OHVs be signed into law not only because it will once again allow families to enjoy riding together, but also so that children aren't forced to ride adult-sized machines that they may not be able to operate safely."

[ejcycles]

It's Finally Over !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews...tegoryId=48447

President Obama signs bill excluding powersports from CPSIA lead ban
Publish date: Aug 12, 2011

President Obama today signed H.R. 2715 into law, just days after it passed the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives nearly unanimously, putting an end to an unintentional ban on youth ATVs and off-highway motorcycles that has lasted for more than two years.

The new law amends the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to categorically exclude youth ATVs and dirtbikes from the lead content provisions.

"For more than two years, the powersports industry and its riders have urged Congress to categorically exclude youth dirtbikes and ATVs from the CPSIA's lead content provisions," said Larry Little, chairman of the Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Directors. "We are gratified that our community's passion and perseverance have paid off and the ban on youth model OHVs is finally over. MIC’s Member Companies worked hard on this issue, as well as many MIC staff members, and we are especially grateful to Paul Vitrano, Kathy Van Kleeck, Duane Taylor and the MIC Government Relations Office."

Since CPSIA took effect, the Motorcycle Industry Council has been working to end the ban by providing written comment and congressional testimony, and by leading a large grass-roots effort consisting of phone calls, letters and emails that cumulatively reached well over a million.

"On behalf of riders everywhere, we thank the Congress and the President for their action on H.R. 2715 to reverse the unintended ban on youth ATVs and motorcycles," said Paul Vitrano, general counsel of the MIC. "In particular, MIC and its members thank Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) for sponsoring the bill and Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) for leading the Congressional effort to enact the categorical exclusion.”

[Weldangrind]

Thanks for the update, Bruce; it's a good day. "Nearly unanimous" is an encouraging statement, although I wonder who would possibly oppose such an amendment.