Compromise not likely to lower NC’s minimum ATV age

BY JOHN MORITZ
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A state senator says negotiations in the North Carolina General Assembly over a regulatory bill will likely leave out a plan to allow children as young as 6 to ride all-terrain vehicles.

Davie County Republican Sen. Andrew Brock says he will support a compromise to keep the state’s minimum age requirement for the popular four-wheelers at 8, in order to ease other regulations for younger riders to standards supported by the ATV industry.

Children’s health advocates support the more restrictive state laws over the federal standards, which they say are more likely to contribute to injuries or deaths among small children.

But one leading advocate said he would likely support a compromise that did not include lowering the minimum age.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)