Originally Posted by no1mad

Not an attorney, but I'll give this a shot.

CPSC is Federal, so what they say goes. Manufacturers have no clue as to what bike will be sold in what State when it is built, so they go by the default minimum standard set by the CPSC. Also, though a bike may be required to have more stringent standards at the State level for riding at night, how is the Manufacturer/Distributor or the LBS supposed to know if the bike will be ridden at night? It is up to the End User to familiarize and comply with the law.

Originally Posted by Roody

As I recall, the CPSC (federal) regulations require manufacturers, importers and retailers to make sure that every new bike has minimal passive lighting. They don't apply to actual use and operation of the bike--that's where state and local ordinances come in.

Originally Posted by Looigi

Correct. Consumer Product Safety Commission sets national standards for products sold. What you do with them afterward it out of their purview.