Riders rally against CPSIA

Six-year-old Chase Yentzer stood up on a chair before a crowd at Capitol Hill and promised not to eat his dirtbike.

“My name is Chase Yentzer, and I’m 6 years old. I ride dirtbikes with my family. I race dirtbikes. Please give me my dirtbike back. I promise not to eat it,” said the Carlisle, Pa. youth, to thunderous applause.

Yentzer was the youngest speaker at the April 1 rally urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission to exempt youth-model motorcycles and ATVs from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

Intended to stop the sale of toys containing lead, the CPSIA has also banned the sale of motorcycles and ATVs produced for children 12 years old and younger since Feb. 10.

The rally at the Capitol included enthusiasts and powersports dealers, as well as authors, apparel makers and small business owners whose products are also caught under the CPSIA.

“Seeing so many motorcyclists and ATVers coming together to fight for their right to enjoy their favorite motorsports with their families really is heartwarming,” said Ed Moreland, vice-president of government relations for the American Motorcyclist Association.

Later in the day however, the CPSA decided against recommending an exemption for motorcycles and ATVs submitted by the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, the Motorcycle Industry Council, Polaris Industries, American Suzuki, Arctic Cat, Bombardier Recreational Products, Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, American Honda and Yamaha.

A CPSA report says that the risk of exposure to lead from youth vehicles is low, with an estimated lead intake of 0.015-0.05 micrograms of lead per day, well below the amount of lead estimated to be injested from food and water (for a six-year-old, about 2.2 micrograms from food and 0.6 micrograms from water).

However, the report says current legislation prevents them from allowing an exception for products that could result in any absorption of lead, no matter how minimal.

The CPSA report also agreed with one argument made by the anti-CPSIA contingent, saying the elimination of youth ATV sales is likely to result in children riding adult ATVs and increasing their risk of injury and death.

Footage from the rally will be available for viewing at http://www.amendthecpsia.com/.

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