WASHINGTON — When members of Congress wanted to stop young children from ingesting lead from toys and jewelry, they passed a sweeping law in 2008 that went further than many intended: It also banned the sale of motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles if they're used by children and contain too much of the toxic metal.
After a series of delays, the law is set to take effect Dec. 31, which is causing much consternation in the industry.
"It seems kind of radical, I guess, to me," said Curtis Bleile, 39, the owner of Fastrax Motorsports in Puyallup, Wash., which sells parts and accessories for ATVs and motorbikes.
Responding to a slew of similar concerns, a bipartisan coalition of 43 members of Congress is out to pass bills that would permanently exclude youth-model motorbikes and ATVs from the lead ban.
In a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency assigned to enforce the ban, 11 House members said the exemption was needed because Congress never intended to include motorcycles and ATVs in the new law.
The law Congress passed bans making, importing or selling "any" product intended for children 12 and younger that contains more lead than the federal government's new standards allow. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said it had no choice but to include youth-model motorcycles and ATVs because of the way the law was worded.
That's prompted a flood of complaints to the commission and to members of Congress.
The House bill, sponsored by Montana Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg, is called the Kids Just Want to Ride Act. Rehberg said it was crucial that Congress "put to rest any confusion once and for all."
Uncertainty over the new law already is affecting sales.
Sales of motorbikes and ATVs are down nearly 40 percent since 2008, said owner Vicki Gray of South Bound Honda in Lakewood, Wash., and South Sound Honda in Olympia, Wash. She attributed the drop in sales to the national recession and the new lead ban.
"A broad stroke of the pen affects all of us so hugely," Gray said. "And they don't do very good research before they do these things. ... It's silly. It's absolutely silly. A child is going to eat their motorcycle? You know, come on. It has broad effects, and they have no idea."
Jim Boltz, the head of the Washington State Motorsports Dealers Association, said that sales of youth-model motorbikes and ATVs virtually stopped in 2008 when the law was passed. And with the delay in its implementation, he said, the uncertainty lingers.
"It's a real negative situation that probably never should have happened," he said. "We have enough uncertainty as it is, just with the economy, without this kind of stuff."
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, the chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, called the new restrictions "overzealous" and said they "interfere with a way of life enjoyed by not just Montanans, but outdoor enthusiasts across America."
"While the goal is admirable, it is important to inject a little common sense into the process," said Tester, the sponsor of the Senate bill to exempt ATVs and motorbikes from the ban. "I want our kids and grandkids to be safe and protected from harmful toys, but we all know that most kids who are past the teething stage do not chew on their toys."
The lead ban had been set to take effect May 1, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 4-1 on Feb. 1 to delay implementation until the end of the year.
Robert Adler, the only dissenting commissioner, said that nearly three years after the law was passed "consumers still do not have the assurance that the children's products they buy have been reasonably tested." In addition, he said, it isn't the commission's job to delay the measure.
Industry officials are relieved.
Ed Moreland, a senior vice president with the American Motorcyclist Association, said the delay "affords riders much-needed breathing room" and would give Congress adequate time to change the law.
Under the new law, which was signed by President George W. Bush, manufacturers would have to certify that their products complied with the new lead standards.
Industry officials say that ATVs and motorbikes can contain lead in their battery terminals, tire valve stems, brake and clutch levers, throttle controls, engine housings and elsewhere.
"Who knows?" Bleile asked. "With all the parts that we deal with, there's gobs and gobs of cast parts, and lots of bearings and all these things involved, and I really honestly don't know how much lead is contained in those. ... There's so many vehicles out there that rely on that material in some of their components for us to maintain them and keep them running."
Gray said the new law already was driving more families toward other outdoor activities. And she said the lead ban would hurt motorcycle racing among younger riders.
"It's a way of life for a lot of people," she said. "Because of this lead ban, if those bikes are not being imported anymore or made anymore, they aren't going to have anything to race. ... My biggest concern is legislators making laws that have such a broad effect on people and businesses, and they have no idea what kind of effect it makes on people."
MORE FROM MCCLATCHY
Dangerous toys remain on store shelves, survey finds
Texas lawmaker wants ATVs, dirt bikes exempted from child-safety act
New consumer safety chief takes charge
Follow the latest politics news at McClatchy's Planet Washington