Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- After years of almost making it through the legislative process, a law designed to protect children riding all terrain vehicles takes effect July 1.
Chandler's Law honors the life of Chandler Saylor, who died from an ATV accident in May 2003.
It requires children under 16 to take safety courses from instructorS like Sharon Loan. Loan has taught people the basics of riding the machines for the last 22 years.
"If you're making a turn and your body's not in the right position it encourages it to roll over," said Loan.
She says sometimes people assume they can handle an ATV, but Chandler's Law could change that.
"There'll be a day when you look in the paper and when you look on the television and won't see something like this happen and you won't know why, but the why will be because this law was in effect," said Democratic Sen. Brad Hutto of Orangeburg.
Governor Nikki Haley signed the bill in May.
In addition to taking safety courses, the law will require children under 16 to complete safety course, to wear helmets and eye gear, and will prohibit children 6 and younger from operating the machines.
It also bars parents from allowing children and under 16 and without a motor vehicle driver's license to carry a passenger on an ATV, or to operate an ATV in violation of the manufacture's age restriction warning on a machine.
Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, says her agency works to ensure the safety of the equipment made in and outside the U.S.
"If they don't meet the requirements they are never allowed into the country to be sold," said Tenenbaum.
But she says limitations on riders falls to each state, and in South Carolina, the work of Chandler's parents, Pam and Steve Saylor, helped the rules become a reality.
"Now is when the work really starts, get the information out and let everybody know what the law is, and just be informed," said Steve Saylor.
So far this year, at least two Midlands children have died from ATV-related accidents and the Saylors say they want to prevent more families from feeling that pain.
"We hear from our teachers that they're hearing a lot about their small, small children coming in and talking about riding ATVs and riding double with a family member, so they have real concern that these children know and are aware of the dangers of ATVs, so that's kind of a next step that we've taken it and we're working on that. It hasn't stooped here," said Pam Saylor.
For the Saylors and instructors like Loan Chandler's Law is a step in the right direction.
"If we've helped one person we've done our job," said Loan.
Violating the law is a misdemeanor and could result in a fine of up to $200.