FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Oregon’s proposed Bill 49 will prohibit operation of all-terrain vehicles by persons under 12 years of age. It will restrict operation of all-terrain vehicles by persons 12 to 15 years of age to a maximum of 90cc. It will prohibits sellers of all-terrain vehicles from knowingly selling all-terrain vehicles for use by persons under 12 years of age or for use by persons 12 to 15 years of age in violation of engine displacement limitations. Oregon defines an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in three classes. Class I & III are listed in the bill. Class I defines what we in the motorcycle world know as the ATV, a vehicle of 3 or more wheels. Class III includes “an off-highway motorcycle with a dry weight of 600 pounds or less that travels on two tires.” Of note, Oregon classifies a pocketbike specifically as an ‘off-road’ vehicle. It is probable to assume Class I would also include 125GPs through 600 Superbikes in race form since they are not allowed on highways as well should law enforcement want to get particular. Should the bill pass, racers under 16 years of age will be forced to not only purchase bikes but also race outside the state lines to save their parents from potentially being issued a class D traffic violation. The bill affects many venues of racing including motocross, supermoto, dirt tracking, mini road racing, and quite possibly may include any racing with motorcycles of up to 600 lbs. Up and coming teen racers like RoadracingWorld.com’s Elena Myers and Red Bull Rookies Cup racers like Cameron Beaubier and JD Beach who all hail from the west coast will risk violation should they be found racing in the state of Oregon on anything over 90cc. Senate Bill 49: ~http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/sb0001.dir/sb0049.intro.pdf~ Oregon DMV ATV definitions: ~http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/vehicle/atv.shtml~ Jennifer Lenz Vancouver, Washington