An ATV ban happened before, and it could happen again
May
16, 2003 – In the mid-1980s, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission
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, 2003 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.
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 commission will hold the initial public hearing in Morgantown, West Virginia. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. 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.
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 interests of two of the coalition partners are in eliminating ATVs, not making them safer."
Stay tuned to ATVAonline.com for the latest updates.