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ATV News from around the States
Arizona
California
Illinois
Michigan
New Jersey
Wisconsin
Arizona
Arizona OHV enthusiasts want to form a state-wide
association to represent their interests with
legislators and regulatory officials.
Along with Blue Ribbon Coalition, Motorcycle
Industry Council and AMA, the National OHV Conservation
Council hosted an August OHV summit and workshop
aimed at creating a motorized coalition of user
groups throughout the state.
Riders interested in joining this organization
should contact Sanford Cohen, NOHVCC State Rep.,
414 N. Fitzmaurice Dr, Prescott Valley, AZ 86303
or by email at
sanford9@mindspring.com.
California
California State Parks will be conducting a
fuel use survey in the upcoming months throughout
the state. Participants will be asked questions
regarding their fuel use and the results will
be used to determine the OHV portion of the
overall state gas tax revenue. The AMA encourages
those contacted to participate in this survey.
Illinois
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) amendatory
vetoed Senate Bill 1804, which would have required
that 85% (now, 60%) of the money from the Off-Highway
Vehicle Trails Fund be used for motorized recreation.
The Governor recommended that the motorized
proportion of the fund be raised to 70%, rather
than 85%. ABATE of Illinois fostered this initiative
and is working to override the veto.
Michigan
Michigan‘s ATV-safety training program, which
is funded by vehicle registration fees, has
been saved. The enacted version of Senate Bill
574, authored by Sen. Burton Leland (D – Detroit),
transfers responsibility for the off-road vehicle
safety education fund to the Department of Natural
Resources and Environmental Protection. Earlier
this year, Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-Northville)
had proposed to eliminate the program from the
Department of Education, as part of her FY 2003-04
budget proposal.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell is warning
potential violators that regulations prohibiting
off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on public lands
are being strictly enforced.
The Department is pursuing zero tolerance with
illegal operators, area enforcement sweeps,
unregistered and uninsured vehicle impoundment,
and maximum fines for all violators, resulting
in fines of up to $1,000 per violation. A total
of 62 vehicles have been impounded, and 48 individuals
were arrested and jailed this year.
Commissioner Campbell added that while illegal
OHV use is not tolerated, the department supports
the safe and proper use of OHVs in designated
areas or during specially permitted events.
Acknowledging that proper OHV operation has
a recreational value to a growing number of
residents in the state, the DEP’s new policy
also calls for its Office of Natural and Historic
Resources to develop appropriate recreational
areas for lawful OHV use - while meeting the
policy’s safety and natural resource protection
requirements. Two such facilities will be established
and in full operation by 2005 according to DEP.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 463, introduced by Rep.
Mark Pettis (R-Hertel), an ATV rider himself,
would allow ATV riders under the age of 12 to
operate on private land and to participate in
sanctioned events. Presently, a rider under
the age of 12 can only ride on state ATV trails
but not on private property – not even if it
belongs to the youngster’s family.
Roughly 50 race promoters, club leaders, and
concerned families met with Karl Brooks, ATV
Administrator from the Department of Natural
Resources - Bureau of Law Enforcement, hoping
to better understand the situation and offered
suggested alternatives that the Wisconsin ATV
Association (WATVA) could bring forward to state
legislators to change this dated law.
The bill has been referred to the Committee
on Tourism. Concerned riders can support the
bill by writing to Mark Pettis, Chairman, Committee
on Tourism, Capitol Building #18-W, Madison,
WI 53708 or by contacting their state legislator
at
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/waml.
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