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yfz450inMI
03-04-2008, 11:44 AM
This may only be true for Michigan but anyone who has any feedback please post up.

I stopped into my local dealership today on my lunch break looking to purchase a 50 and 90. The 90 would be for my 8 yr old nephew (bought by grandpa for the grandkids) and the 50 would be for my little girl (under 4 yrs old). The sales man told me that he couldn't legally sell me either quad unless my kid was of legal age. So I went back and looked it up on michigan.gov and here's their guidelines:
1.) Children under 10 cannot operate any 4 wheel ATV
2.) 10-11 can w/ valid ORV certificate on PRIVATE land
3.) 12-15 can w/ valid ORV certificate
4.) 16 - up...obviously yes, no cert required

So my question is:
If my child wants to race in the 4-6 yr old class at my local track, how can they "legally" practice? Also, how can the tracks in MI get away with age brackets under 10 when they're technically not legal to ride until they're at least 10?

This really sucks because you can start riding dirt bikes at any age and can ride trails under 10 w/ adult supervision and ORV cert.

Is this just something specific to Michigan or do the rest of you face the same issues?

What am I supposed to tell my daughter when mom, dad, grandpa and uncle are across the street riding on grandpa's 56 acres and she wants to get a quad and ride with us?

tireman43
03-04-2008, 12:26 PM
There are similar rules everywhere. The age restrictions are if you are going to trail ride or ditch ride. The Gov. wants you to be 16 or older to ride the big quads, 12 and over for 90's and I don't know about the 50's. MI may have added more restrictions of their own but you get the idea. If you go back and tell the dealership you want them for pit bikes or something of that nature they shouldn't tell you no. Most want to make the sale. If all else fails see if a kid you know, who is of age, will help you out. I had my youngest brother help me out on our first purchase of a Pred. 90.

As for the racing/practicing...this is why you sign release forms and things like that. You put your child out there at your/their own risk. The tracks also pay(I believe) hefty insurance and are privately owned. It may be tougher in MI for mini's to race(I don't know first hand) but there are many other places nation wide that are mini friendly. Sound like MI kinda stinks with all the rules. Good luck with your purchases.

Kevin

guy310
03-04-2008, 01:24 PM
Those are not the rules everywhere. Those specifically are only in MI. In Indiana, you can operate an ATV on private property and on public land (i.e. ride areas) as a child with parental supervision. IN does not really have any guidelines set in stone as to age progression. There restrictive guidelines put into place by the CPSC that say you can't ride a 90cc ATV until your 13 I think and definitely no 450's under 16. As far as the comment about how tracks hold races with kids, the simple answer is most don't. Redbud does not race mini quads except at Nationals and they will only allow them to practice on the peewee track. I know if I lived in MI I would do what I want. I wouldn't allow the state to tell me what to do with my own child. We ride at my brothers house in Grand Junction, MI and we get no problems. It's not like the state police are out looking for unauthorized 4 year-olds riding ATV's. Also I think the DNR is charged with enforcing those laws.

At any rate it's all BS.

tireman43
03-04-2008, 02:47 PM
I just remembered also...there is a guy on here who went thru the same issue and rather then fight the system or cause problems he bought Eton Rovers which fall into a different category. I know you won't be racing these but may be something to look at if you just want to go and ride. Here is the link... http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=328792

guy310
03-04-2008, 05:40 PM
Good idea.

Blazer25
03-04-2008, 07:35 PM
When we purchased atvs for our kids the dealer told us the same thing. You just have to "fib" about the age of your children. That is what we did. It is just a rule made to cover the butts of the manufacturer and the dealer. They dont follow up w/you about it.

quadscrib
03-04-2008, 09:20 PM
Originally posted by tireman43
I just remembered also...there is a guy on here who went thru the same issue and rather then fight the system or cause problems he bought Eton Rovers which fall into a different category. I know you won't be racing these but may be something to look at if you just want to go and ride. Here is the link... http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=328792
Funny you mention that cause I saw him w/ his boys and the rovers in the newest DIRTWHEELS today!
I am in Michigan too and all I can say is shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
That is technically the law and also the reason there were no youth atv races for a couple years here in District 14... its an old B.S. law from the 3 wheeler days when they could be purchased for anyone and Baba Wawa screwed us all in the ATV world.
There is in fact a petition that I cant find the link to right now.
It was NEVER enforced but from what my understanding was that the chairman of the District 14's kid was riding a utility quad and a branch fell off a tree and hit him, he went to the hospital to get checked over and a DNR officer caught wind ( Most of them here are anti ATV[at least the few Ive encountered]) and wrote a ticket and therefor being the chairman he could not ignore the law which NOONE knew about. Afew years have passed, the chairman has changed , and we (and our kids) are a racin!
I may not be 100% correct but I am buddies with , a club member with, and a racer with Andrew Smith who has been the district 14 ATV MX chairman forever (untill this year).
Id say RUN EM but thats up to you, the rest of us do.....

quadscrib
03-04-2008, 09:28 PM
When I bought the Pred 50 a couple years ago I was reminded it was for me and thats all good. Id just buy and as long as you dont mention anything else then no harm no foul.
By the way my dad has been a cop here (and not to atv friendly by the way) for 29 years (Eaton County) and has never heard of such a thing and w/ the liberal we have "running" things here (into the ground) its best right now not to stir things up.
Its a VERY obscure law and not enforced.
Just dont tell any lawyer friends..lol (is there such thing)?

tlskinn
03-04-2008, 11:16 PM
The dealers out my way inform you that if the 90 is for someone yonger then 12...they can't sell it to you. ;) ;)

They tell you up front before you say something they don't want to hear. CYA is the game.

quadscrib
03-05-2008, 06:43 PM
Heres an email I just got today :
Hello Everyone, we NEED YOUR HELP! The ball is finally beginning to roll and we need your help to keep it going. Below you are going to find information about Senate Bill 296. Basically, this is what we need to get all of the kids out to the track! MX riders...this will allow us to fill the gap in classes that we are missing. XC riders...this helps to open the flood gates and start getting kids racing XC! Please take the 2 minutes to click on the link to find your senator and just send a simple, brief note letting him/her know that you support SB296 and you'd like them to also! Also try to get everyone in your household and everyone that you know to do the same, the more emails that we have and the more noise that we make, the better chance we have to get this passed! please help!!!!



All,


Please email your contacts for help passing SB 296. We may only have 2 weeks to bombard the senate will email support for the bill.


If you have a web site, please post this (below) or your own version of it ASAP. We got SB 296 passed thru committee yesterday. Now we need as many people as possible to email their senator and ask him/her to support it. It could go to the full senate for a vote as soon as 2 weeks!




++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++


MARCH 5, 2008. PLEASE HELP ASAP ... and tell your friends!


What to do:


Click this link to find and email your state senator.


http://www.senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm


If the link doesn't work, copy and paste the text above to your browser.


What to say in your email: In your own words, make these points:


I'M A MOTOCROSS (or motorcycle or ATV) RACER AND I SUPPORT SENATE BILL 296. PLEASE VOTE FOR IT!


What does Senate Bill 296 say? It's a competition exclusion for a Michigan law that was quietly changed back in 1995. There are two problems with that law, Michigan Public Act 451.
1) Kids under age 16 cannot ride a bike or ATV unless they first attend a state safety training course and carry their class certificate card with them. The course relates to trail riding and basic motorcycle safety (how to apply the brakes, etc.)
2) Kids under 10 cannot ride a quad of any size for any reason, anywhere. Kids age 10 and 11 can ride a quad on their parents' property only.


SB 296 excludes riders in an organized practice or race from these requirements. We got it passed through the Senate Transportation Committee; next it goes to the full Senate for a vote. We don't know the exact date, but it could be as soon as two weeks.


THE DNR IS OPPOSING THE BILL. WE NEED TO FLOOD THE SENATE WITH SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL!! EMAIL 'EM TIL THEIR SERVERS CRASH!!


=

quadscrib
03-06-2008, 10:51 AM
Hello. To help fill in a few gaps of info, here we go........

-District 14 does not run any classes that do not comply with the State Law. All kids on ATV's are at least 12 years of age. An ATV is a 4-wheeled vehicle that is between 50-500cc (along with a few other defining characteristics) All "50" quads are under 50cc, therefore classifying them as ORV's by that same law. This is how we run the '50 class' of ORV's at our races for kids under the age of 12, they simply need their ORV training certificate, just like 2-wheeled ORV's.
-What brought the first shut-down of kids ATV's had nothing to do with ATV's or anyone not liking ATV's....one of our legislative directors sons was riding his motorcycle (on private property) when a tree had fallen on him while he was riding and broken his leg. The ambulance call got the attention of a DNR officer who came in to investigate and issued a ticket. The point of the ticket was in the same part of the law where the ATV part was and he realized that we were in violation of State Law. At that point, we had no choice but to cease what we were doing until we could get the laws changed. In the mean time, we slapped on the band aid and are running the few classes that we legally can at this point.
-Since that point, we have begun attacking things from multiple directions to be able to get the kids back on the track and while slow, we are making progress. Currently we have Senate Bill 296 which finally made it out to the floor after a couple failed attempts and almost a year in committee. We need everyone possible to bombard their Senator with emails that kindly ask them to support SB296 because you support it. The more email pressure they receive, the more they realize the importance to their constituants.

Hopefully that helps a little bit. If you have any questions, just let me know.

robdcol
05-27-2011, 04:12 AM
I know this post is old to say the least, but I just moved from Fl to Mi. In Fl my twin boys that are 5 ride there little 50 no issues, I stumbled across this issue or law when I was researching a few places to ride. I also noticed that D14 has kids under 10 in the classes so I got to thinking wtf and further researching eventually coming acorss this post.

Did anything ever happen with this SB 296, I was looking to get my self and kidos into some form of racing. Overall I am just pissed and disappointed that my kids can't ride with dad and enjoy all that Mi has to offer for riding.

As it seems from the D14 ATV motocross rules, it is great that kids can race, but wtf can't ride supervised with parents??

robdcol
05-27-2011, 04:12 AM
I know this post is old to say the least, but I just moved from Fl to Mi. In Fl my twin boys that are 5 ride there little 50 no issues, I stumbled across this issue or law when I was researching a few places to ride. I also noticed that D14 has kids under 10 in the classes so I got to thinking wtf and further researching eventually coming acorss this post.

Did anything ever happen with this SB 296, I was looking to get my self and kidos into some form of racing. Overall I am just pissed and disappointed that my kids can't ride with dad and enjoy all that Mi has to offer for riding.

As it seems from the D14 ATV motocross rules, it is great that kids can race, but wtf can't ride supervised with parents??

DAVYS DAD
05-27-2011, 05:35 AM
heres some bs 4 u.MI state law kids under 12 cant ride MI orv trails on an atv............6year olds can ride DIRT BIKES on them....... kinda 1 sided dont you think. Lots of tracks for mini atv riders to ride. LOOK under ATV/UTV racing and go to District 14 lots of places to ride.

robdcol
05-27-2011, 06:05 AM
Yeah I saw that for dirt bikes, I don't get it, one sided for sure. What puzzled me was how it says under 10 can't ride unless its for farming or something lol....but it appears ok to race, I am all for racing but damn if my kid can race then one would think a trail with mom and dad would not be a problem. I guess racing is in a sense a bit more of a controlled environment vs. the parents that don't supervise kids on ORV's/ATV's.

I'm not against dirt bikes or anything, I have considered adding bikes to my riding, 1st reason is since the two closest tracks to Algonac Mi (baja and freelin) don't either allow quads in practices at all or only do at D14 events. I really gotta travel to ride MX now. 2nd if I am going to get hassled for my kid riding quads for being under 10, then I might as well put them on a CRF50 so we can still have fun times. A large part of me wants to give them a finger and do what ever I want, see how much it is actually enforced. I really wanted to take them to Silver Lake lol thats out for a 6 years. boooo I wish all this would change

desratt
05-27-2011, 02:53 PM
maybe a fake ID.. might as well let him pick up beer at the 7-11 also

Christiansdad
05-28-2011, 08:26 PM
the same kinda of law is going into affect in south carolina real soon where no kid can drive a atv, but can ride a dirt bike.