ATV Florida Forum

ATV riding bans proposed

April 15, 2005 – From Connecticut to California, government jurisdictions are taking steps to try to ban ATV and dirtbike riding.

In Vermont, motorcyclists recently won a major victory when the state's top legal officer said that a local town board and law enforcement officers improperly stopped a dual-sport ride on the day of the ride.

The ride was stopped because the Town of Jamaica Select Board had passed a law banning ATVs, dirtbikes and other vehicles from certain dirt roads. Part of the rational for the ban involved alleged damage done by ATVs.

After investigating the blocking of the dual-sport ride, Attorney General William Sorrell said that sheriff's deputies who stopped the ride with threats of arrests and seizure of motorcycles were "overzealous" in their enforcement.

The attorney general also said that the law enforcement officers were trying to enforce a law passed only two weeks before the ride that wasn't legally in effect at the time of the ride.

Residents of Jamaica were outraged by the actions of their Select Board and got the ban overturned.

Meanwhile, in Connecticut, state Sen. Bill Finch (D-Bridgeport) has introduced two bills to ban the operation and sale of ATVs and off-highway motorcycles statewide.

The Connecticut Joint Transportation Committee—made up of both Senate and House members—actually took testimony on the bills, Senate Bills 330 and 565, which call for the ban.

We told the committee that if the state is having problems with the illegal or inappropriate use of ATVs, then it should address these problems through the use of existing law. A blanket prohibition is not warranted.

Dan Salomone, president of the Connecticut Trail Users, also stressed that with an estimated 70,000 ATVs in use in Connecticut, the state collects more than $4 million a year in sales tax from the sale of ATVs, as well as the sale of parts, accessories, and the servicing of those vehicles—all money the state would lose.

The committee made no decision on the proposals so they remain alive, at least for now.

In California, under a proposal being considered by the Riverside County Planning Commission, thousands of ATV and dirtbike enthusiasts probably would no longer be able to legally ride their bikes on their own land because they wouldn't be able to meet the strict requirements.

And Ed Moreland, AMA/ATVA vice president for government relations, warns that neighboring counties are watching the outcome of the planning commission's actions closely to see if there's the possibility they could enact a similar defacto ban.

There are 47,712 off-highway vehicles registered in Riverside County. There are more than 150,000 more registered OHVs in the neighboring counties of San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego, a staff report says.

Under the Riverside County proposal, a landowner must have at least five acres to ride on his or her own property. Also, the riding area must be at least 250 feet from the nearest neighbor's home and 100 feet from the property line.

Plus, only two bikes or ATVs could be ridden at a time, riding hours are restricted, steps must be taken to control dust, and the maximum measurable sound level at the property line can't exceed 65 decibels.

Get involved in your area to head off threats like these before it's too late. To find out how, contact Terry Lee Cook, AMA/ATVA grassroots manager, at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1288; or by e-mail at tcook@atvaonline.com.

© 2005, All Terrain Vehicle Association

This is why we all need to get involved.  

The whole Country is going to &%#$  >:(

Land of the Free  ???

Are people out of their MINDS?  That is why private land is called private.  I can understand some regulations on public riding land, but not if your the landowner.  Also, 65 Decibels, some stock atv's are louder than that. We all need to get together to help these people who want to regulate us pull their heads out of their a$$.

Good thing George Bush is president!

A stock atv puts out around 80-90 decibles of sound. I hope they ban atvs from connetcut and the stats loses so much money they will lift the law.

amen.

damn liberal tree huggin hippies urk me.  whats next?? Airboats? buggies?  Trucks!?!?

buggies do FAR more damage than a four wheeler could ever dream of.  Why do they feel that they need to do this sh*t??  it s ridiculous!

I was being sarcastic, Bush is an a$$clown.

I know you meant Jeb Bush, not George W "The Man",
Jeb Bush is an A$$ Clown.

Both are Bushess are retards but I was refering to G W. Say what you will but there have been more land closures in the last 5 years then ever before.

I saw on the news the other night where they are trying to get rid of ariboaters in Citrus County.

I agree..both hicks are jerks....Jeb is doing nothing to help us. GW is just an a hole in general.

George W overturned the snowmobile ban in Yellowstone through an executive order.  What the hell have any Democrats done besides take the side of eco-nazis that don't even want us to be able to ride on our own land!

Well said monster.

amen.  I hate it when people talk out of their ass without knowing facts.  Jeb Bush is one of the best things to happen to Florida in quite a while, and George W.  IS going to go down in history as one of not only our greatest presidents, but one of the WORLD's greatest leaders.

Laugh you have got to be kidding.  Talk about not knowing facts.  Jeb Bush is the one who is pushing this whole Everglades Restoration which is what caused us to get kicked out of several popular riding areas.  As for President Bush being one of the greatest presidents your joking right?  If President Bush comes down here and opens up Bad Luck Prairie which his brother helped close on us then maybe I'll reconsider.

I guess I am.

Agreed. Hell yeah!!! I think this post may get banned soon or moved.