I got an email this morning from another ATVer in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is wanting to pass a bill for banning kids under 12 from ATVs. The lady sent me some good information, so I wanted to pass it along! DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP!



Hi, Dawn,

Thank you for the information. I talked to Royce Wood
of the AMA.
Mr. Wood has said the best thing to do is to contact
your local district Senator and Senator Bernest Cain.
He said that every phone call and email helps. Sen.
Cain's bill bans any and all size of ATV's from kids
under 12. If you could let people know about this,
that would be great. This is our family sport.

I have also enclosed some links for you.

Thank You very much,
Mekay

Please write, email, and phone your local Senator and
Senator Bernest Cain in objection to senate bill 1830,
which states in section 1 paragraph B that

Any parent, legal guardian or person having actual
responsibility for a child under twelve (12)years of
age, who knows or should have known the child is
operating or riding as a passenger on an all-terrain
vehicle, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction, be subject to the penalties as provided in
subsection A of this section.

Also contact friends, family, associates, and anyone
that may be affected by this bill.

Link to Senate Bill 1830
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/20...SB1830_int.rtf

Link to state senators emails and phones numbers.
http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/directoryalpha.htm

Senator Bernest Cain
cain@oksenate.com
405 521-5610


Link to AMA action form letter against Senate bill
1830
http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/al...420391&type=ST

CONTENT OF FORM LETTER:

Senate Bill 1830 would make it illegal for anyone
under that age of 12 to operate an ATV.

This bill will deny my family the right to participate
in our preferred family recreation. Families should
be free to decide what to do in their spare time and
parents must have discretion over the type of
recreation in which their children participate.

I believe that rider education is the best approach to
the long-term reduction of ATV-related injuries and
fatalities. Rider education promotes the use of
safety equipment, safe riding and improves rider
skill.

I am concerned about ATV safety, but the safety of
motorized recreation can be enhanced without making
the participation of young persons a crime.

I respectfully request that you oppose SB 1830.

Please include personal contact info (eg: name,
address, phone, email) when sending to your Senators.

Please Email us or call if you have any questions or
need more information.

Thank you.

Cory and MeKay

 

UPDATE---------Senate Bill 1830 has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
Committee Members are listed below.

Sen. Charlie Laster - Chair
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 413
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5539
laster@oksenate.gov

Sen. Bernest Cain - Vice Chair
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 413A
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5610
cain@oksenate.gov

Sen. Randy Bass
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 423
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5567
bass@oksenate.gov

Sen. Brian Crain
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 513B
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5620
crain@oksenate.gov

Sen. Constance N. Johnson
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 421
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5531
(405) 521-5580 - Fax
johnsonc@oksenate.gov

Sen. Todd Lamb
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 513A
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5632
lamb@oksenate.gov

Sen. Richard Lerblance
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 511
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5604
bell@oksenate.gov

Sen. Scott Pruitt
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 529A
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5602
pruitt@oksenate.gov

Sen. James A. Williamson
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 528B
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-5624
brownb1@oksenate.gov

Tracy Kersey - Attorney / Legislative Analyst
kersey@oksenate.gov
Sara Kyte - Attorney / Legislative Analyst
kyte@oksenate.gov


Feb. 14 Tuesday - Committee Meeting
Feb. 23 Report from Committee

Sen. Laughlin's office and Royce Wood of the AMA recomended that we write, call and email the committee members in opposition to this bill. Especially, Sen. Laster since he is "chair". Remember, be polite. If they pass this what's next. They've passed other bills in Utah, New Mexico, North Carolina etc.


Link to AMA action form letter against Senate bill 1830
http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/al...420391&type=ST

 

I looked this bill up and paragraph B is where they sneak the ban in, the first part looks like a helmet law. Every time my kids ride they smile from ear to ear (under their helmets of course) , if this passes I'll sure miss that and so will they. I'm writing all the committee members.

 

EMERGENCY!!!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!


SB 1830 has passed out of committtee and will be heading for a VOTE!

NOW is the time to write all of the Oklahoma Senators!!!!


It still bans under 12 from ALL ATV's expect agricultural use.

 

Just an update on SB 1830---------GOOD NEWS!!!!!

I copied the following off of the AMA website and you can find the engrossed text of the bill on the oksenate.gov website with all the changes to it


Information Bulletin -- Minimum Age Requirements for Dirtbike and ATV Operators Dropped from Engrossed Version of Cain Bill

The engrossed version of Senate bill 1830, authored by Sen. Bernest Cain (D – Oklahoma), would require that ATV and dirtbike riders under the age of 18 wear helmets. Riders under the age of 14 would be prohibited from carrying passengers on vehicles not originally designed to carry passengers.
The original provisions that would have made it illegal for a child under that age of 12 to operate or ride as a passenger on an ATV or dirtbike were eliminated on March 1, 2006.
This legislation can be reviewed by clicking on the “current legislation” tab.
Any new developments will be posted to this website as soon as they become available.
(the above was from the AMA site)

Later, ATVMOM

 

Great news!! That is a law I can live with. Thanks for the info.

Steve

 

Yes it is good news.

However, the HOUSE OF REPS. can still make it worse. Since it has no title they can add anything they want to it and if it makes it out of the house it will go to another committee (since no title).

We still need to write our REPS and let them know how we feel, but be polite.

Let everyone that you know to still write the REPS.

 

I think that some of you are short sighted on this bill. Just because they trimmed the bill back where it fits you means that it is okay. I have two kids and they both ride atvs. My whole famity rides atvs and we all wear helmets when we ride them. We do not need someone legislating common sense for us. What we do need is the laws that are already on the books to be enforced. Rider education is many times more effective than a helmet. Knowing how to use the brakes and the throttle and stopping distances will keep your child more safe than he or she having a helmet on while they are flying through the air due to a stupid mistake, like riding above their head. Children riding unsupervised is child endangerment period.

I also have problems with the exemption of agricultural atvs and farm kids. A large percentage of the atv accidents occur on the farm. I come from ranch country and my wife was raised on a farm, in case any of you thought I did not have a good perspective.

I also ride motorcycles and own a helmet. Sometimes I wear it and sometimes don't. This is my choice and I hope that it stays that way. I belong to OK ABATE and we are in the process of sponsoring rider education programs in our local community. This atv law is being watched by the motorcycle community because we feel that this a precursor to a mandatory helmet law.

I guess before all of my ramblings, the point that I am trying to make is not to sign off on this because it does not affect you. It does affect someone. One of these days one of these bill ARE going to effect you. Then where will you find allies. Our state is trying to legislate common sense. I do not need the government telling me to keep my children safe. That is an innate trait that I was born with.

Any way I am off my soapbox now. Now I am going outside to work on my Scramber.

 

I'm with ya there springerpete. Law makers have no right to legislate common sense, just as they have no right to even think they have the authority to ban a child from anything without a parental consent. Me and my son ride and we ride ride hard. We wear gear and my son doesn't even think about starting his without it on. I will be at the capital on wed. to help with the opposition of this bill and I hope to see many many others from the ATV community there also. These are our rights, like it or not this will be one more that will be taken away...Chris

 

Just so you know I agree that the government should enforce the laws already on the books and should increase rider education. Rider education would prevent alot of these "accidents". You don't see any big safety organizations (i.e., ok safe kids coalition, they were one group who sponsored this bill) passing out helmets like they do for bicycles or sponsoring ATV/Motorcycle safety classes.

ABATE is a great club, you all do alot for Ok communities. Many of us do appreciate your efforts. ATV's and motorcycles unfortunately get alot of bad publicity.

The government should not be telling people 18 and over to wear a helmet whether you ride an ATV or a Motorcycle and there should be no age ban on ATV/Motorcycles.

This bill has no title and there is a possibility that they can make it a mandatory helmet law. This is why I urge people to still write our Reps. and pay attention to this bill. Adults should have a choice in wearing a helmet or not.

My kids and I always wear helmets/gear, but it is hard to keep your mouth shut when you see someone at Little Sahara poppin wheelies on the pavement with their three year old on back.

Sincerely,
ATVMOM