Help alleviate the ban on Youth ATVs and Motorcycles

ATVAM News You Can Use

January 2010

Motorcycle Industry Council: Enthusiasts and Industry Must Mount Massive Grassroots

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 19, 2010 - The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) supports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission's recommendation to Congress to give the agency more flexibility to grant exclusions from the lead

content limit to address certain products. The CPSC requested this flexibility in its January 15 report to Congress

containing recommendations to improve the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

"We are encouraged that the consensus report of all five Commissioners specifically mentions ATVs and dirtbikes,

recognizing the dangers to riders caused by the current ban on youth motorcycles and ATVs," said MIC general

counsel, Paul Vitrano.

In addition to the consensus report, MIC is encouraged that CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum also called on Congress

to create a new "functional purpose" exclusion to the lead content limits. This amendment would permit the

Commission to grant exclusions for youth ATVs and motorcycles since lead in many accessible components is necessary

for their functional purpose, contact with those components is infrequent and the elimination of lead is impracticable

or impossible based on available scientific or technical information.

"It is clear that the CPSC strongly believes that the ban on youth model ATVs and motorcycles needs to end," Vitrano

also said. "MIC calls on Congress to draft legislation as soon as possible to either grant a categorical exemption for

these products, as provided by H.R. 1587, a pending bill with 55 bi-partisan co-sponsors, or to give the CPSC the

flexibility to do so."

In a Jan. 12 letter, the MIC thanked the CPSC for its efforts to promote youth safety by implementing a temporary

stay to make some youth vehicles available despite the ban. MIC also suggested three ways to completely or

substantially exclude or exempt youth off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from those provisions:

1. a "functional purpose" amendment

2. a categorical exemption, such as would be provided by H.R. 1587

3. a change in the definition of "accessibility" for powersports products

Vitrano said it will again be critical for enthusiasts and industry to mount a massive grassroots effort targeting Congress

to advocate for one of these amendments to the CPSIA. In the coming days, MIC will be launching advocacy campaigns

The MIC letter can be read at this link:http://tiny.cc/8iJ3x

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations,

communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications

standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national industry association

representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and

members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants. The

MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC i

n 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC atwww.mic.org.

Contact the Motor Industry Council Media Relations at (949) 727-4211 x 3027

###

National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC)

Creating a Positive Future for Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation