Motorcycle Industry Council Sends Over 135,000 Messages from Riders to Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – February 25, 2011 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Today, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) delivered more than 3,000 letters to Congress signed by motorcycle industry professionals that have had their livelihoods impacted by the lead content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The MIC collected letters that were signed by dealership personnel, owners, and show exhibitors at the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 18-20. The MIC also initiated a nationwide grassroots effort last week that has resulted in more than 135,000 email messages and faxes sent from enthusiasts to Members of Congress urging them to stop the ban on youth all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes. The effort continues at www.stopthebannow.com.

“The final push to stop the ban on youth ATVs and dirt bikes in on,” said Paul Vitrano, general counsel of the MIC. “We believe that Congress is set to act to permanently address this issue by amending the CPSIA this year. In fact, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing to review the unintended consequences of CPSIA on February 17. It is clear that Congress is responding to two years of persistent efforts, but now is not the time to let up.”

The letters collected in Indianapolis were delivered to Chair Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and to Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-CA) of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The CPSIA’s lead provisions, which require products primarily intended for children age 12 and under to meet stringent lead limits, unintentionally banned youth model ATVs and dirt bikes. The letters, emails and faxes urge Congress to stop the ban by either lowering the age range of “children’s products” to age 6 and under or granting a categorical exemption for youth ATVs and motorcycles, as provided in Representative Denny Rehberg’s bill, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, (H.R. 412).

“It is clear that the lead content in youth off-highway vehicles poses no risk to kids. In fact everyone, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, agrees that the real safety issue is that kids are now at risk because the availability of youth ATVs and motorcycles is limited due to the lead ban,” Vitrano concluded. “Members of Congress have heard from powersports enthusiasts and industry. Now, they are ready to act.”

Please visit www.stopthebannow.com to have your voice heard and for background information, FAQs, and public outreach tools for the Stop The Ban campaign.

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment firms, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org.