For anyone interested, a friend of mine passed this on to me.
Spread the word to create awareness if you are so inclined.



Consumer Product Safety Commission may not act on Industry petition for Exemption

A congressional act may be the only way to get the ban of youth ATVs and motorcycles lifted. A new MIC/SVIA website has been created to help solve this issue.

Paul Vitrano, General Counsel for the Motorcycle Industry Council
announced a new website called "Stop the Ban" website
(http://www.mic.org/letters.cfm) for several ways to contact Congress to
request relief for the powersports industry. In addition, MIC issued
the following regarding the lead ban that has affected business and
riders across the nation:

Statement of the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle
Institute of America regarding CPSC Ruling on CPSIA.

At a press conference hosted by Rep. Tom Self of Missouri on March 4,
Paul Vitrano, General Counsel, Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) stated that the
powersports industry is being severely harmed by the ban on most youth
all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles. The ban is a result,
unintended or otherwise from the CPSIA legislation and is a very serious
concern because of the consequences.

Serious because:

With these ATVs unavailable to families, we may see more kids on adult
ATVs. We know this leads to crashes. The CPSC, the ATV industry,
consumer groups, safety advocates and parents all agree: It's critical
to keep riders under the age of 16 off of large ATVs designed for
adults. The CPSC, consumer advocates and industry have worked for years
to get kids onto youth model ATVs, many of which are now not available
because of the unintended consequences of this legislation.

In addition, families with smaller dirt bike enthusiasts may be tempted
to put young riders on motorcycles that are too large for them. This
also raises the risk of injury.

It's serious because:

The potential losses for the industry are massive - up to $1 billion in
retail economic value annually. This at a time when our industry, along
with thousands of big and small businesses, are struggling because of
the economic downturn. Tens of thousands of small businesses across
America have been severely hurt because these vehicles are sitting in
warehouses and not on showroom floors. Meanwhile, the sales of goods
like protective gear, accessories, and parts and services, are virtually
non-existent.

Thanks to the efforts of Tom Self and the thousands of dealers in the
industry, the media is starting to report on the obvious, that kids
won't eat or lick their ATVs and motorcycles.

While that is true, it is also important to note that the industry has
submitted scientific evidence using the analytical method required by
the legislation. This evidence proves that the lead-containing
components, parts and accessories of these vehicles - essential for
safety or functionality issues - pose no risk of causing measurable
increase in blood lead levels in children aged 12 and younger.

Unfortunately the signals from CPSC are not good. CPSC Commissioners
voted just last night on procedures for determining exclusions. Based
on both Commissioners' interpretations of the law, we are not optimistic
that the exclusion for youth model ATVs and dirt bikes will be granted.

Now the industry is caught in the middle of a fight between Congress and
the CPSC. Congress gave the CPSC the power to grant merited,
common-sense exclusions, such as ATVs and off-highway motorcycles, from
the lead standards. We urge the CPSC to grant our requests for
exclusions.

If CPSC believes its hands are tied because of the way the legislation
was written, Congress needs to amend the law to restore common sense and
make exclusions available for youth ATVs and dirt bikes.

These products present no health risk to children. There is no
practical reason for our industry to be harmed by an unintended effect
of this law. Each day this ban continues compounds the severe hardship
on businesses and families, and works against the ATV safety efforts of
CPSC, industry and consumer advocates. And it could well contribute to
more crashes among young dirt bike riders.

Congress and the CPSC need to end this ban - NOW.

yep. not right. you can go to this link as well to send a letter.
http://www.arra-access.com/campaign/...product_safety

fin