FEDERAL SAFETY COMMISSION TARGETS ATV'S--MAY 28

Federal Safety Commission Targets ATVs
An ATV ban happened before, and it could happen again.

In the mid-1980s, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a series of public hearings on ATV safety.
The result? A ban on three-wheeled ATVs. Now, that same federal agency is at it again.

Saying it's concerned about ATV-related injuries and deaths, the commission announced it will hold a hearing on ATV safety on June 5 in West Virginia. And more hearings are expected.

What will be the result? It's too early to say. But by looking at the type of information the commission is seeking, the panel could be laying the groundwork for a complete ATV ban, a capacity limit on ATV engines (399cc has been mentioned), or a ban on the sale of adult-sized ATVs for use by children under 16, regardless of their physical size, among other possibilities.
Click Here To Download ATVA Online's petition!

What we know for sure is that anti-ATV groups will be out in force and testifying about what they believe are the ``horrors'' of ATVs.
This could grow into the biggest threat ATVers have faced since the ban on three-wheelers in the mid-1980s.
Your ATVA will be aggressively fighting for your rights all the way, and you will need to get involved too.
According to a notice published in the Federal Register on April 23, the CPSC will hold the initial public hearing in Morgantown, West Virginia. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. June 5 at West Virginia University in the Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center.

The commission states that it
is``concerned about the dramatic increase in ATV-related injuries and the continued increase in ATV-related deaths, and believes that holding a hearing will provide an opportunity for the interested public to share their concerns about ATVs and ATV safety.''
The federal safety panel also asserts that there has been an increase in injuries in recent years associated with the use of ATVs with engines of 400cc or larger.
Click Here To Download ATVA Online's petition!

The commission wants comments on:
•Whether factors such as the rider's age, ATV engine size, and/or the large used ATV sales market (or any other factors) have influenced the increase in injuries and deaths observed by the commission staff during a recent ATV risk analysis study.
•Whether there should be a performance standard for ATVs and what requirements related to safety should be included.
•ATV use, safety issues, accidents and injuries, minimum riding and purchasing age requirements, and future government action from ATV owners and users.
•Local and state ATV use restrictions, regulations and licensing activities and their impact on ATV safety.
•Current ATV use patterns (recreational, industrial, agricultural, or other uses), and injuries and safety issues related to those specific uses.
•Current local, state and industry safety efforts and training programs.
•The availability and use of safety training for ATV purchasers, and ATV consumer purchasing patterns (age of purchasers, model type and size, experienced vs. inexperienced riders, etc.). They want this information from ATV manufacturers and dealers. The commission also announced it will take testimony on a request by a coalition of groups made up of the Consumer Federation of America, the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition, the Bluewater Network and others to ban the sale of adult-sized ATVs sold for use by children under 16.

That coalition originally called for a ban on all ATV use by those under the age of 16, but the commission said it couldn't enforce such a ban. ATVA Director Doug Morris noted that under a longstanding agreement between the ATV industry and the commission, only the smallest ATVs—those with engines displacing 90cc or less—have been sold for use by riders in that age group.
In addition, Morris questioned the motivation behind some of the groups involved in this attack on ATVs. He noted that the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition and the Bluewater Network have never had any involvement with, or interest in, ATV safety. Instead, their agenda has been to block access to public lands for ATV riders and others involved in motorized recreation.

``Including these anti-access organizations in this coalition makes for an odd alliance at the very least,'' Morris said, ``since the clear intent of at least two of the coalition partners is to eliminate ATVs, not to make them safer.''

To testify before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in West Virginia, requests to make oral presentations, and 10 copies of the text of the presentation, must be received by the commission’s Office of the Secretary by May 29. Persons testifying at the hearing should provide an additional 10 copies of testimony to be passed out at the meeting.

Requests to make oral presentations, and texts of oral presentations, should be captioned ``ATV Hearing'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington DC 20207. Requests and texts of oral presentations can also be sent by fax to (301) 504-0127, or by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.

Written testimony will be accepted until July 5 and should be sent to: Attn: ATV Hearing, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.
For more information, contact Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington DC 20207; telephone: (301) 504-6833; fax: (301) 504-0127; or by e-mail at rhammond@cpsc.gov.
Be sure to visit the ATVA website at www.ATVAonline.com regularly for the latest updates.
Click Here To Download ATVA Online's petition!



WE MUST STOP THEM

 

i doubt they'll listen to us. IE the people that enjoy and undoubtingly know more about these then anyone else on the planet.

my three-wheeler isnt dangerous, unless i want it to be. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

that pettion was supposed to be sent by june 5th, you're a little late, besides, that page has been floating around here for some time

 

i think the reason they shouldnt ban atv's is because its ur choice if u want to ride and take the chance of getting hurt.

 

if they keep going at the rate they are...we will have to go back to the modle T for cars...

 

MNFRIESEN... thats way to unsafe...no seat belts, air bags, warning lights...etc... more likely an envirionmentally friendly foam mobile with all the automatic safety features... & of course it would have to be petal powered, as we all know that all interenal combustion engines are dangerous, & electric ones are prone to shock danger & fires...LOL...WAM

 

Most people that gripe about atvs, dont even have one so they take it out on us, i really hate these bunch of idiots who try to spoil our fun so they can get a good laugh out of it and think they are doing the right thing

 

holy *****! sign it sign it! iam not riding a 90cc quad!

 

Yes this has floated around here before but it seems the majority of ATVers dont give a crap about it to even try to fight it. Its like most are in a coma on this issue. Dont cry when you have nothing to ride!
This goes hand in hand with the ride spots being threatened.

we all have two haters: 1. CPSC 2. radical environmentalists
The CPSC, if you search their site, they have for more ANTI-ATV stuff than any other product. In my opinion, the CPSC should not even be responsible for ATVs. ATVs should be regulated by an agency that has a better understanding of motorized vehicles, such as the DOT like cars MOTERCYCLES and boats.
CPSC needs to understand that an ATV is not a toaster or a blender or a baby bed or toy.

These haters are both in full force against ATVs and ATVers RIGHT NOW.

Wake up and fight for you rights to have a quad and tell them if they want to see the "epidemic" of injuries lessen they should seek to ENFORCE the laws they currently have concerning ATVs. That might make some mad, but I dont care. We do not need a repeat of the late 80's here. Last time, people layed down, but this time- it just cant happen. We need to fight them hard on this or we will not have anything worthy to ride or anywhere to ride.