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View Full Version : N.C. Riders: Protect your child's right to RIDE!



Flynbryan19
02-23-2005, 11:47 AM
Today this bill was proposed for the state of North Carolina. Though I agree with most everything in this bill as common sense and actually stand behind. I do NOT stand for or agree with the proposed action to BAN CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 FROM RIDING AN ATV.:mad:

Here is the proposed bill:

GENERAL @$$EMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005
SENATE DRS15016-LK-15A (1/13)

Short Title: All-Terrain Vehicle Regulation.
(Public)

Sponsors:
Senator Purcell.

Referred to:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to regulate the sales and operations of all‑terrain vehicles.

The General @$$embly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. G.S. 20‑4.01 reads as rewritten:

"§ 20‑4.01. Definitions.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout this Chapter to the defined words and phrases and their cognates:

(1a) Alcohol. – Any substance containing any form of alcohol, including ethanol, methanol, propanol, and isopropanol.

(1b) Alcohol Concentration. – The concentration of alcohol in a person, expressed either as:

a. Grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or

b. Grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

The results of a defendant's alcohol concentration determined by a chemical analysis of the defendant's breath or blood shall be reported to the hundredths. Any result between hundredths shall be reported to the next lower hundredth.

(1c) All‑Terrain Vehicle or ATV. – A motorized off‑highway vehicle designed to travel on three or four low‑pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control.

(1c)(1d) Business District. – The territory prescribed as such by ordinance of the Board of Transportation."

SECTION 2. Article 3 of Chapter 20 is amended by adding a new Part to read:

"Part 10C. Operation of All‑Terrain Vehicles.

"§ 20‑171.10. Age restrictions.

(a) No person less than 12 years of age shall operate an all‑terrain vehicle.

(b) All‑terrain vehicles with engine capacity up to and including 90 cubic centimeter displacement shall be operated only by persons 12 years of age or older.

(c) All‑terrain vehicles with engine capacity greater than 90 cubic centimeter displacement shall be operated only by persons 16 years of age or older.

(d) All persons under the age of 16 shall be under the continuous supervision of a person 18 years of age or older while operating an all‑terrain vehicle.

"§ 20‑171.11. P@$$engers.

No operator of an all‑terrain vehicle shall carry a p@$$enger, except on those vehicles specifically designed by the manufacturer to carry p@$$engers in addition to the operator.

"§ 20‑171.12. Prohibited acts by sellers.

No person shall knowingly sell or offer to sell an all‑terrain vehicle:

(1) For use by a person under the age of 12 years.

(2) With an engine capacity of greater than 90 cubic centimeter displacement for use by a person less than 16 years of age.

"§ 20‑171.13. Equipment requirements.

Every all‑terrain vehicle sold, offered for sale, or operated in this State shall meet the following equipment standards:

(1) It shall be equipped with a brake system maintained in good operating condition.

(2) It shall be equipped with an effective muffler system maintained in good working condition.

(3) It shall be equipped with a United States Forest Service qualified spark arrester maintained in good working condition.

(4) When operated during the hours of darkness, from one‑half hour after sunset to one‑half hour before sunrise and at any time when visibility is reduced due to insufficient light or atmospheric conditions, it shall display a lighted headlamp and taillamp, unless the use of lights is prohibited by other applicable laws like those prohibiting the use of lamps when hunting at night.

"§ 20‑171.14. Prohibited acts by owners and operators.

(a) No person shall operate an all‑terrain vehicle unless the person wears eye protection and a safety helmet meeting United States Department of Transportation standards for motorcycle helmets.

(b) No owner shall authorize or permit an all‑terrain vehicle to be operated contrary to this Part.

(c) No person shall operate an all‑terrain vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, any controlled substance, or a prescription or nonprescription drug that impairs vision or motor coordination.

(d) No person shall operate an all‑terrain vehicle in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger or cause injury or damage to any person or property.

(e) No person shall operate an all‑terrain vehicle on any public street, road, or highway except for purposes of crossing that street, road, or highway.

(f) No person shall operate an all‑terrain vehicle at anytime on an interstate or limited‑access highway.

"§ 20‑171.15. Safety training and certificate.

(a) On or before May 1, 2006, every all‑terrain vehicle operator born on or after January 1, 1990, shall possess a safety certificate indicating successful completion of an all‑terrain vehicle safety course sponsored or approved by the All‑Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute.

(b) On or before October 1, 2006, every all‑terrain operator shall possess the safety certificate required by subsection (a) of this section.

"§ 20‑171.16. Penalties.

(a) Any person violating the provisions of G.S. 20‑171.10, 20‑171.12, or 20‑171.14(e) or (f) shall be guilty of a Cl@$$ 2 misdemeanor and may be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation.

(b) Any person violating any other provision of this Part shall be responsible for an infraction and may be subject to a fine of not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00)."

SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2005.

Flynbryan19
02-23-2005, 11:52 AM
The best action here for us NC riders is to contact our local senators AS WELL AS THE SENATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL(Senator Purcell) and RESPECTFULLY and MATURELY express our dislike and concern over this bill.

Here is a link to the NC state Senators: NC SENATORS (http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/reports/countyRepresentation.pl?Senate)

Find the appropriate senator for your county and send a RESPONSIBLE reply. Here is an example of my reply:

"Dear Senator (your senator here) and Senator Purcell,

Today as I was following the daily news on Channel 12 I was very disappointed to hear of the proposed senate bill to bar children under the age of 12 to participate in the wonderful sport/hobby of recreational atv riding. Atv riding/racing goes back 3 generations in my family as well as 3 generations in my wifes family. There are riders from the ages of 7 all the way to 40.

I would be greatly disappointed to see this bill p@$$ed as it would greatly hinder the ability to share this past time with my children as well as other younger members of the rest of my family. Just in the past year we have spent $12,000 of our hard earned tax paying money to the purchase of new atvs as well as several hundreds of dollars paid to ohv state park riding areas. If my children as well as my relatives children were banned from this sport that we love so much it would greatly dampen our family gatherings that we enjoy so much.

Senators, I understand that the protection of our children is your goal in this bill, but I feel very strongly that this is not the appropriate action. It will greatly sadden me to explain to my child that he may no longer ride his atv that he loves so much because the government has deemed it illegal for him to do so. I feel that the already standing laws on atv size to child age rules are appropriate and that it is not neccesary to completely ban children under the age of 12 from opperating these vehicles. Please do not completely deny my children and others the right to a hobby they enjoy so much. Though I know it is our saftey that you are fighting to protect, our children and relatives children are very responsible and are always supervised by an observant adult. I know there are parents that do not properly supervise their children, but I just ask you to find a way to fight this battle that does not punish those of us who willing abid by the rules and act responsibly. I do not find our hobby to be anymore dangerous than other hobbies such as bicycle riding, football, or hockey. All have the potential for danger, yet when proper education and saftey precautions are taken this can be a fun relatively safe sport.

I thank both of you for your time and am interested to hopefully hear from both of you about this topic. I will do everything within my legal power to stand for my position. I hope that you will think of me, my family, and our stand on this topic as you exercise your power.

Sincerly,

(Your name here)"

Flynbryan19
02-23-2005, 11:59 AM
Lets ACT people, we do not want the government to take away the right for our children to enjoy this hobby we love so much!

Mxjunkie
02-23-2005, 12:04 PM
thats so messed up! first they make then ride atvs that are sometimes to small now they dont want them riding at all :grr:

Flynbryan19
02-24-2005, 08:38 AM
Am I the only person from NC on this site:confused:

dunnonuttin
02-24-2005, 02:36 PM
Originally posted by Flynbryan19
The best action here for us NC riders is to contact our local senators AS WELL AS THE SENATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL(Senator Purcell) and RESPECTFULLY and MATURELY express our dislike and concern over this bill.

i'll express my dislike alright and so will my paintball gun. and im from NC too flyinbryan. im just quadless

Dannys400ex
02-24-2005, 05:13 PM
im gonna write a letter too. this is messed up.

bigfoot300ex
02-25-2005, 08:44 PM
Originally posted by Flynbryan19
Am I the only person from NC on this site:confused:
nope there is a good many people on here from nc

i think this is terrible
i also think this would hurt the atv industry in sales in a big way
because i work at a large family owned business and i know how many small bikes go out every week

those guys in raleigh need to start voting on stuff that makes sense,not this bs

I understand there are a lot of wrecks with 12 year old and younger kids but make them take a class for safety or something,dont take away there right to ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EvilJester400EX
02-25-2005, 08:56 PM
I've talked to a few of my friends that have kids and want them to ride, and I too think this is probably one of the dumbest things. I think that law should be changed to children under 12 must be accompanied by the parent instead of just banning it all the way. It would kill the 90cc- below market for 4 wheelers in North Carolina, that's for sure. I see a lot of little kids on 4 wheelers around here and the government is going to take that away? It's crazy, I can agree with every other law in there because tons of ATV accidents in North Carolina involve drunk people and no helmets.

Flynbryan19
02-28-2005, 05:24 AM
Contact your senators guys. Do something about it!!! :)

250R-Dee
02-28-2005, 07:19 AM
I see NC is still filled with anal retentive politicians who think they know what is best for everyone. Please fight this bill! If I were still a registered NC voter I would send him an email too.

Oh yeah, I attended Pine Forest Sr High in Fayetteville in the '80's. GO TROJANS!!