Things are looking up people. It's nice to see that people pulling together can make a difference. Even if it took an army of more then a million motorheads and many companies across the country to wake up Washington at least it's starting to work.

Here is the latest news

U.S. Congress is getting the message loud and clear: More children are being endangered each day the ban on certain youth vehicles continues. So we need legislation to lift the ban, and we need it now.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives this week unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress to amend the regulations.

Missouri state Rep. Tom Self is coming off a 10-day, five-state tour during which he encouraged people to file protests via his website at www.tomself.com. More than 100,000 people have already done so, the MIC claimed Monday.

“If CPSC believes its hands are tied because of the way the legislation was written,” the MIC reported Self as saying, “we ask Congress to amend the law to restore common sense and make exclusions available. Congress and CPSC must make it a priority to stop this ban now.”

Missouri passed its own resolution in February. A city way over in California, Lake Elsinore, borrowed the text in a resolution it passed Tuesday.

And as most readers know, Malcolm Smith sold three of the banned vehicles at his dealership last week, during which store staff collected signatures for letters to local politicians.

Three arguments seem to be at the forefront: 1) that the lead exposure from youth vehicles is harmless (on par with food and water), 2) that parents are endangering their children by putting them on larger vehicles because smaller ones aren’t available, and 3) that kids are riding vehicles made dangerous due to neglect because dealerships aren’t allowed to repair them or sell replacement parts.

Beyond the grassroots level, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana introduced last week an improved version of a reform bill he had already introduced. Whereas the earlier bill (H.R. 1510) exempts off-road vehicles only if the commission decides it’s not technologically feasible for the vehicles to comply with the lead limits, the later bill (H.R. 1587) exempts off-road vehicles unconditionally.

And whereas the earlier bill had no co-sponsors, this one has three: Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas, Rep. Michael Simpson of Idaho, and Rep. Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota.

CPSIA Lead Law Updates

Grassroots Movement to End Ban Grows

CPSC Staff Asks Congress to Exempt Youth Vehicles

KTM Gives Malcolm a Nod for Lead Protest

Malcolm Smith Leads CPSIA Protest

more

A federal rule published Wednesday tells manufactures how they can apply for an exemption to the new lead laws regarding children’s products. But according to the MIC, the rule’s standards are so high that it’s doubtful any product will qualify.

The exclusion process applies only to products that exceed the limit on lead. Children’s products that comply with the limit can still be sold. Bell Powersports, for example, recently announced that its youth helmets are legal.

Also, the limit on lead levels applies only to components accessible to children. The amount of lead in internal engine parts, for example, is not restricted.

Theoretically, the federal agency charged with enforcing the lead law, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, could grant exclusions to products that exceed the lead limit, are accessible, but could not result in the absorption of “any” lead into the body.

But according to the MIC, the word “any” in the law probably makes it impossible for any manufacturer to obtain an exception for a children’s product containing an excessively lead-laden component that could be touched. The hand-to-mouth exposure, however small, is relevant because of the word.

Confused? So is the MIC, which contends that the rule renders meaningless the exclusions provided for by Congress in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), the legislation containing the lead limits.

According to an MIC bulletin, the CPSC has stated that the exclusion is not rendered meaningless because conceivably some product could be over the lead limit but be designed in a way to avoid hand-to-mouth exposure. “However, the CPSC does not provide guidance on how an accessible part may be designed as to not lead to some type of exposure,” the bulletin says.

In response to the unworkable exclusion process, MIC lobbyists are now concentrating on the difficult task of getting a bill passed through Congress.

The CPSIA became law last August. It applies to products intended for children 12 and under, including ATVs, dirtbikes, parts, garments and accessories. The ban on the sale of these products went into effect Feb. 10, 2009. In February, the CPSC said it was OK to sell machines designed for 12- to 15-year-old riders, units that previously carried the Y12 category.

2 more letters sent by us. Lets go people our dealers need our support
Our children need their buggies

thanks Chuck, I have sent a bunch and get the generiac responce back. but we need to keep doing it.

the local honda/yamaha/suzuki dealer just laid off 2 sales people, and 1 tech. they have over 300 units they cant do a thing with

Lets go guy's. Send some letters. It seems crazy how little responce something like this gets but let a new clutch hit the market. To bad you cant get one CAUSE ALL THE DEALERS ARE SHUT DOWN Ok thats extreme but you get the point. Or that new buggy on you tube that you cant get cause it's band

This is the worst form of Government BS I have seen. I am posting some links for You all to fill out a simple form and have an email sent to a bunch of official A@#ES.. http://www.arra-access.com/campaign/adv_s608?rk=G14DCgMaaLfWE

I have around 6 pre written tetters that you only need to sign, I am just trying to figure out how to post a word doc. If anybody know how please let me know. Lets let these idiots know that they are ruining a great American sport!!!!

Thanks,

Stu

sent, keep it up

Eric,

are you able to download the pre wriiten letters I posted as well? they are pretty good.

let me know,
Stu