Federal Safety Agency Grants Reprieve to Kids' Dirtbikes & All-terrain Vehicles

On Feb. 1, the CPSC voted 4-1 to delay enforcement until Dec. 31 of the independent laboratory testing and certification requirements, as well as the lead-content limits, for kids' dirtbikes and ATVs contained within the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008. The decision extends an earlier stay on the testing and certification requirements that was scheduled to expire Feb. 10, and the stay of enforcement on the lead-content provisions that was set to expire May 1.

The CPSC is responsible for implementing the CPSIA, which 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. The law also requires children's products to undergo expensive periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the CPSC and those products must be certified that they comply with the CPSIA.

"I want to thank all of the AMA and ATVA [All Terrain Vehicle Association] members and riders who used AMA and ATVA tools to request a delay in the enforcement of the law," said Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations. "This latest action affords riders much-needed breathing room to allow federal lawmakers to exempt child-sized dirtbikes and ATVs from the law.

"It's important now for anyone concerned about this issue to contact their federal lawmakers to ask them to support H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, that was introduced by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) to exempt kids' dirtbikes and ATVs from the law," Moreland said.

The best way to contact lawmakers is to use the tools available in the Rights section of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Once the revised stay of enforcement expires on Dec. 31, the sale of kids' dirtbikes and ATVs will effectively be banned because it's unknown whether the requirements of the law can be met. That is, unless kids' dirtbikes and ATVs are exempted from the law by an act of Congress before the Dec. 31 deadline.

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.