The sound of bustling people fills the air. On every street-corner tavern counters are full, their customers savoring the last taste of something they’ve been raised with, something they’ve cherished, something that is about to disappear. It’s January 15, 1920 and the 18th Amendment—banning the sale, distribution or consumption of alcohol—goes into effect tomorrow…
Here we sit, in the 21st
century, on the verge of a prohibition of our own;
the sale of motorcycles and
ATVs intended for use by children 12-and-under becomes illegal next
Tuesday, February 10th.
What madness is this you ask? It’s called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, an act that was originally drafted to keep lead-based products from reaching the hands of our children, but an act that is now having far reaching effects into the powersports industry that none could have foreseen.
The regulations put in place by this act prohibit the sale or distribution of any product intended for the use of children—child meaning anyone 12-and-under—that has a lead content higher than 600 parts/million. As we found out, some parts like: cable ends, engine cases, brake rotors, or battery terminals contain trace amounts of lead—enough to make them an illegal product as of next Tuesday. There is but one way to keep dealers across the nation from having to remove all units, 85cc and below, from their showroom floor; an immediate exclusion or stay period of the powersports industry from the CPSIA.
The AMA issued a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission urging them to take such action, citing that, “Inaction on this issue will do irreparable harm to segments of the powersports industry that are already struggling with an unfavorable economy. The most vulnerable are the small dealers and suppliers -- the “mom and pop” shops in thousands of communities across America.”
“According to motorcycle and ATV industry sources, most motorcycle and ATV components are compliant with the CPSIA’s lead limits, but some components unavoidably contain small quantities of lead in excess of the CPSIA’s limits. The nature and location of these components (i.e., battery terminals – which are usually behind a secure panel) suggests a very minimal exposure risk.” The letter also points out that people will continue to get their children motorcycles or ATVs, but now will be forced to purchase units far too large or powerful for them—a major safety concern in its self. Can you imagine the 250 4-6 class?
Despite efforts by the AMA, Special Vehicle Institute of America and the Motorcycle Industry Counsel, no word has surfaced for a solution to keep the minicycles on showroom floors.
It’s been 75 years since America’s last prohibition and here we are, on the brink of witnessing another. This time, though, rather than banning a substance often used as ‘liquid courage’, we are poised to see times spent with family and friends, in true character-building competition, become outlaw behavior.
To give your (respectful) input, send your emails to: newleg@cpsc.gov
Or call your local congressmen and let them know how detrimental an act like this would be to your family.