Counties opting out of law

[yunt2ride]

I read in the local paper that Levy county had opted out of the state law that allows ridng on dirt roads. Soon every county in Florida will be opted out. I called a commissioner last night after I had read this and we spoke for about an hour on the issue. I was informed that she was thinking that it was to draw up an ordinance to opt out and was not actually official until the ordinance was read and passed. I mentioned to her that we riders have no choice but to ride the roads illegal if they take that away from us unless they open up an area for us to ride. I also mentioned that we go up to 250 miles just to ride because there is nothing here. I also mentioned that I usually spend around $400 to go to these places and the county is missing out on the revenue that it would bring if we had a place. I told her that if I knew it was on the agenda then I would have been at the commission meeting to give some input but did not know that it had come up. She said she would call me on this when it is back on the agenda and said that they needed numbers as to how much revenue is lost by us traveling out of the county. That helps them make decisions but when you have noone there to push it and a few there to ask them to opt out that makes for some decisions.

Everyone needs to call their commissioners rather they have already opted out or not because you can make a difference in the future or they can change that ordinance that they already approved to make it null and void. I will be calling some more of ours tonight when I get home.

[Ida_Mann]

good idea Yunt, I'll be looking for phone numbers of Marion and Orange and Volusia county commissioners myself,,,,,since I live in Orange and Volusia and ride in Marion.

I think the argument could be made that I spend about $70 - $100 every time I go riding and that money is going to different counties wherever I go because I have to travel outside of my home county to ride.  This is a bi-monthly expense that could be generating revenue for my home county if I could ride there.

oh well,,,,same argument different day.

Id@

[GrizzlyBear]

I have been in contact with the Marion County Attorney, and they presently have no intent on even discussing the issue.  I believe in Marion, it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.  The attorney, who is a friend, indicated he would call me if it was coming up for discussion.

[Quad32x]

Hey Grizz , Im trying to think of any area around Marion to ride dirt roads. Is there any place with a large area of them ?

[GrizzlyBear]

hog valley, and many areas in the forest. (that are privately owned property.)

[Ida_Mann]

my neighborhood up there and it would now be legal to ride my quad to the store if I push it across the paved roads.

Id@

[yunt2ride]

Call your commissioners rather they have already or not. Ask to be informed when something to do with ATVs are on the agendy so you can be heard.