Public Comment Period on ATV Regulation Proposals Extended

swadminNovember 14, 2006

The powersports industry and other members of the public now have until Dec. 26 to comment on proposed changes to federal ATV safety and manufacturing standards.

The original 75-day comment period began on Aug. 10, but legal counsel for the powersports industry had asked for an additional 60 days of public comment.

The public comment extension was granted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is looking at changes to a host of ATV regulations, which are currently voluntary.

The proposed changes include:

shifting how youth ATVs are regulated. Instead of engine size and speed, the CPSC suggests regulating by speed. In addition, instead of two age categories, there would be three.

formally banning three-wheel ATVs.

proposing that a document be signed at the point of sale that says free training is available and is a reasonable distance away and at a reasonable time.

signing another document at the point of sale that acknowledges the seriousness of children riding ATVs.

The best way to provide comments to the proposed regulation changes is to e-mail them to tstevenson@cpsc.gov.