SALEM, Ore. -- Children accustomed to zipping up the hills of Oregon on their all-terrain vehicles might be traveling significantly slower soon, and some might not be moving at all if some lawmakers have their way.

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An example of an All-Terrain-Vehicle.

A new bill under consideration in the Senate would ban children under 12 from riding ATVs and limit 12- to 15-year olds to riding ATVs with smaller engines.

ATV enthusiasts say Oregon already has sufficient safety regulations and the legislation would hurt a burgeoning industry. But backers of the bill say the off-road vehicles are dangerous and that young children are particularly vulnerable.

"Currently, Oregon has very lenient ATV operator rules," said Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, one of the bill's sponsors. "As ATV-ing becomes a more popular sport the injury and death rate continues to rise ... I believe that regulations are necessary in order to protect children from unnecessary death or injury."

The issue was highlighted at a rally outside the Capitol on Tuesday, where opponents said the bill was misguided and further regulation was not necessary. Child safety, they argued, was a matter of parental supervision.

"Our whole family rides on ATVs, including our three children," said Linda Minten, a mother who spoke at the rally that was attended by about 100 people. "We're concerned this legislation will not only cut into our family recreation time but might also hamper our ability to do farm work."

The new bill would require 12- to 15-year olds to ride 90-cc ATVs that are much less powerful and not as fast as adult ATVs, which can weigh hundreds of pounds and reach speeds of 70 mph.

Backers of the proposed restrictions cited the case of Kyle Rabe, a 10-year-old Central Oregon boy killed in 2002 when his adult-sized ATV flipped over and rolled on top of him.

Adrienne Greene, coordinator of the advocacy group Safe Kids Oregon, said it's unlikely a watchful parent could have saved Rabe.

"Can you push a 600-pound ATV off of your kid? I don't know how supervision could protect your child from a rollover," Greene said.

According to Safe Kids Oregon, eight children in the state died from ATV use in 2005. And, the group said, medical bills reached $50 million between 2000 and 2005 for people injured in ATV-related accidents in Oregon.

But the activity also injects millions of dollars into local businesses that cater to ATV riders and the state government. According to an Oregon State University report, off-highway vehicle recreation contributed an estimated $120 million and 1,809 jobs to Oregon's economy in 1999. In 2006, Oregon State Parks generated over $800,000 through issuing ATV permits.

Rich Burkholder, the owner of Spinreel Dunebuggy and ATV Rental which has rented vehicles for Oregon's famous coastal sand dunes since 1961, says the legislation is misguided.

"If legislators want to decrease accidents and injuries, they need to spend the money on doing safety programs and make it mandatory for kids -- teach them how to ride." Burkholder said.