You have probably seen it happening over the last few years, your favorite ATV riding trails getting shut down, sometimes temporarily and sometimes for good, or you may have seen some stern regulations in place where you previously enjoyed riding your ATV. Most of this is due to irresponsible ATV riders tearing up ATV trails and invading and destroying private property.
Recently, a Federal panel has taken the first step toward issuing new rules related to ATVs, and that could mean changes in the where and the way you ride your machine, especially if you have riders under the age of 16 in your family.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule making related to ATV safety on October 6, 2005 and that means to keep your eyes open for the issuance of new rules regarding ATVs.
This could be a very serious step for ATVers everywhere, The last time the commission seriously considered ATV safety, it banned three-wheeled ATVs. This time, the three-member CPSC has been considering a petition submitted by the Consumer Federation of America and other concerned groups that call for the CPSC to ban the sale of full-size ATVs for the use of children under the age of 16 years of age.
This potential move has been heartily opposed by ATVA Director and AMA/ATVA Legislative Affairs Specialist who had representatives testify in a commission hearing on this issue. Instead of a ban, more parental supervision was argued to be the key and although the panel may have the authority to regulate the sale of ATVs and related products, they do not have the authority to enforce how consumers use the products they purchase.
