Kids' Dirtbikes ARE SAFE!

[utsv650]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102567295

more govt genius-- BRILLIANT!

[Wintermute]

I've already gotten in touch with the relevant committees, chairmen, and local congress critters over the stupid lead ban on kid's dirt bikes.

I guess they think toddlers and babies are going to open the garage door, crawl over razor-sharp gardening equipment, ignore the colorful bottles of cleaning supplies, ignore the pile of old fireworks, diaper themselves in oily rags, ...and go chew on a kid's dirt bike.

It's nuts.

[puckstr]

Fear based society

[McVaaahhh]

Funny that the highest amount of lead in kids motorcycles is in the batteries and terminals...

[rforsythe]

Apparently they had some kid testify before congress, and was quoted as saying something to the effect of "Please don't ban my dirt bike! I promise I won't eat my dirt bike!"...

[InlineSIX24]

I got a response back today from Michael Bennet other than the usual generic crap that typically has nothing to do with what you contacted them about:


Thank you for contacting me regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, the CPSIA (P.L.110-314) was signed into law on August 14, 2008. The legislation, which passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, aims to make products safer for children and consumers across America by bolstering the authority of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The law prevents dangerous children’s toy recalls by allowing CPSC to closely examine U.S. imports, strengthen testing requirements, and ban dangerous amounts of lead in certain products intended for children under the age of 12. It also empowers consumers by requiring the CPSC to provide user-friendly databases with important product information.

Although I strongly support the intent of the CPSIA and the efforts of the CPSC to implement the legislation, I certainly understand your concerns over a number of unintended consequences and difficulties throughout the CPSIA’s ongoing implementation. As you note, the strengthened regulations for off-highway vehicles (OHVs), specifically youth OHVs, have been protested by motorcycle industry groups and Colorado families who use these vehicles for recreation.

On January 28, 2009, the Motorcycle Industry Council sent a letter to the CPSC, asking it to exclude materials found in motorcycles. The CPSC’s General Counsel responded, saying that the CPSC lacked the authority to alter CPSIA in such a way, and that an act of Congress was needed. This seeming impasse raises concerns, as motorcycle dealers around Colorado and the country report removing roughly $100 million worth of child-sized bikes from stores. Clearly, this is not only a concern for the Colorado families who operate these vehicles for recreation, but for the entire motorcycle industry.

Despite these difficulties, the CPSC has been working with stakeholders to find practical ways to implement the CPSIA that work for businesses, small and large. On January 30, 2009, the CPSC Commissioners voted to delay for one year enforcement of testing and certification requirements to provide businesses with the time necessary to comply. For more information regarding the CPSIA, I encourage you to visit http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML (http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML).

As Congress considers this issue and works with the CPSC to ensure workable implementation, rest assured I will keep your concerns in mind. Again, thank you for contacting me.


Sincerely,

Michael Bennet
United States Senator

Please do not respond to this email. To send another message please visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov (http://bennet.senate.gov/) and fill out the webform for a prompt response. Thank you.

[King Nothing]

I got the same email today.

[longrider]

While the CPSC may be putting a one year moratorium on enforcement of the rule (regarding OHVs), they are not suspending the rule. This causes legal types to get real nervous, its like saying we wont be enforcing the speed limit so go ahead and speed. We still cannot sell any 50s of any brand.