On February 10, 2009, a new law called the *Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act* went into effect. This law was created by Congress last
August as a knee-jerk reaction to hazardous toys being imported from
China (remember the Fisher-Price toy recalls). It bans all products sold
for use by children which contain above certain levels of lead and
phthalates. In the act, children is defined as anyone 12 or under, and
the law is very broad in that it exempts no products from its purview.

How does this become an issue of importance to motorcycle riders?

All minibikes, pitbikes and even OSET's fall under this act, as well as
ATV's sold for youths. 85cc or smaller, gone. You can't get parts, or
even get stickers. As of today, all the major motorcycle and ATV
manufacturers have instructed their dealers to remove all bikes and
ATV's used by children from inventory and to cease advertising,
marketing, selling, possibly servicing these products.

The lead contained in these bikes is not in the paint; it's in the metal
used for certain parts in the engines and electrical parts. Most dealers
have also been instructed to stop selling parts and accessories for the
bikes as well.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, which is the commission
charged with enforcing this act has been asked by the motorcycle
industry to grant a waiver to prevent the end of the motorcycle
industry, but they are dragging their feet.  As a result, minibikes and
pitbikes became illegal.

ACT NOW!

Contact Links and Information about the CSPIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act):

www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
www.arra-access.com
www.tomself.com
www.cspc.gov
www.amadirectlink.com