Man-Up CPSC

The General has been following this issue since January 26 and has been asking the troops to send letters, make phone calls, and visit the local office of your Member of Congress.

Some people say that “one person cannot make a difference.” I disagree with that statement since I have seen “one person” make a huge difference to effect positive change. However, you can be assured that when hundreds of thousands of businessmen, riders, motocross moms, and proud dads cry foul and make their voices heard in DC (and in the media) that entrenched bureaucrats do listen and can be encouraged to make a better decision or to rethink a current stance.

Up until just a few days ago, it was The General’s impression that the CPSC was going
to stiff-arm the OHV community and make us wait for the 2-3 year rulemaking process
to finish before issuing a variance for youth OHVs. However, based on the quotes below from a recent news article, the CPSC now appears willing to find a solution in a “few weeks” rather than in months or years.

Below are quotes from a CPSC spokesperson in a Feb. 22 news article:
http://www.fwdailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1596:-New-federal-lead-law-puts-the-brakes-on-kids%E2%80%99-powersports&catid=174:features&Itemid=151

…“We are in receipt of the (powersports) petition, but we are not able to grant an exemption at this time because of the way the CSPC operates,” Hayes-Pleasant said. “We are working on it, though, and plan to provide some guidance in the very near future. We do realize that (children) are not directly mouthing these parts (on youth powersports vehicles). The last thing we want to do is take ATVs away from young riders.”

The “guidance” will take a few weeks, “not months,” Hayes-Pleasant said. However, she could not say whether that guidance will come in time for the national Motocross competitions next month. In the meantime the CSPC is advising powersports suppliers and sellers to move and store the affected equipment in an area away from children, but not to get rid of it before the commission comes up with the new guidance…

My final thought for today is that a common thread is running through feedback from the CPSC -- they appear to blame Congress for writing a bad law. While there may be some merit to that concept, the CPSC should “man up” and confess THEY did a darn poor job in issuing the appropriate interim exemptions while the rulemaking process is underway so the powersports industry and OHV recreationists are not hurt or put out of business. If the CPSC really wants to

do the right thing, they won't wait for a few weeks --they will grant a stay on Monday Feb. 23.

KEEP SENDING LETTERS AND MAKE THOSE VISITS TO YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS – This is no time to let up!!!