ATV Florida Forum

Over President's Day Weekend we had 7 ONFA members certified to give the RiderCourse provided by the ATV Safety Institute.  This course is approved by the State of Florida and will meet all requirements of the law going into effect on July 1, 2008.  The course will be available free to anyone interested in being a Trail Ranger.  All children we be charged $75.00 by the ATV Safety Institute.  We have been trying to get them to waive the fee, but they will not. There argument is that they provide all the material and and the liability insurance and as they are a non profit, they can not waive fees.  We will be providing all children who pass the course a picture I.D. that will be accepted on all public lands in the State.  Class size will be limited to 4 per class if under 12 and 6 per class 12 to 15.  The classes will be held at the OHV Center on Forest Road 88 in the Ocala National Forest. Classes will be separate for under 12 and 12 to 15.  Parent MUST attend if under 12.  ATV size is under 70cc if under 12 and up to 90cc if under 16.  All students must have helmets, goggles, long pants, long sleeve shirt and over the ankle boots. Classes will continue on the First and Third Saturday's of every month. Those who are interested, please post here and I will pm you with how to sign up.

Schedule for Safety Training Courses:  1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, starting in May.  Classes at 9:00am and 1:00pm.  Enroll in the class by calling the ATV Safety Institute at 800-887-2887 or by going to their website: wwwatvsafety.org and look for rider training.  If you have purchased a new ATV, the course is free.  If you have an older ATV, the course is $75.00 for under 16 and $125.00 for adults. 

Well I would say how mad i am about all this but I already have in another post. But I do have a quick question, Im 15 right now and ill be 16 janurary of 08. So this means im exempt from this right?

Correct, it goes in to effect July 1, 2008

brother I can't really in good mind say this is good cause we still get kicked out of everywhere unpaved or not this is just going to mean my daughter will ride with me until she is 16 cause if nothing is done so we have someplace to ride I will not support this at all!!!

If your daughter wants to ride on public land, weather she is with you or not, she will have to take a safety course approved by the state.  Right not, the state is only approving already recognized safety courses, and the will not waive their fees.  The fee includes $35.00 to the instructor.  ONFA is trying to get the fee sent to the organization.  The instructors have agree to waive their portion, we expect to have about $10.00 per student costs and are trying to see if the ATV Safety Institute will allow us to refund the $25.00 to the student (parent).  As of yet we have no answer.

 :no good luck

If the state really cared for the kids it would be free. Polaris didn't charge my child for her safety course and they offered it for the whole family for free. This is just another way to make money money money . I'm still waiting for the toll booths on SR 19 to be put up

honda actually pays $100 if you take the course if you buy a new honda

I'm pretty sure they're mandated to offer an atv safety course, just not sure if they're mandated to pay for it.

So who runs the so called ATV safety institute. Why not use your 7 already certified instructors and sponsor the course through the ONFA for free. I can't figure out why the cost is so high. Didn't the ONFA receive lots of grant money for this purpose? Seems like more and more organizations are trying to get rich with these new laws.  >:(

Click here for info:

http://www.atvsafety.org/

How much does it cost?

Maybe nothing if you recently purchased a new ATV. Call ATV Enrollment Express toll-free at 1-800-887-2887 to find out if you are eligible for free training. If you are not eligible for free training, you may take the ATV RiderCourse for a small fee.

And if your interested in reading the statute that goes into effect: Here is link:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=atv&URL=CH0261/Sec20.HTM

Good point --- If ONFA is going to sponsor the course and people are already certified why not for free? If the instructors that are trained not able to do this, then why train anyone else.

the problem does not exist if you buy a new ATV.  The manufacturers pay the ATV Safety Instituet.  The problem is the thousands of kids that already own an ATV.  Even though they trained us, they are insisting that they receive their fee.  What we have is an unfunde State mandate.  I have written my state representatives and I suggest everyone write theirs.

So the ATV safety institute are the only ones in the whole country qualified to teach ATV safety.  What a monopoly. The State of Florida must have a list of what is required for the safety course. Once a curriculum is written to meet those requirements we should get it approved and teach these kids for free and write the institute out of the picture.

that was and still is my intent.  The problem is the Division of Forestry will only approve already accepted courses.  My intent from the beginning was to get the instructors certified (we are) and write our own course using basically ASI's course with modifications to meet the riding you would face in the forest.  Currently the state does not want to assume the liability.  There are no other approved courses, but they are looking at others now.  The problem is, if we don't start now, we will never get everyone approved in time.

I am going to jump in here -- I am sure there are other institutes that are certified to teach the course. Is it the USFS that only certifies this saftety course.

There are a couple of things here that you are missing -- The atv safety course is I am guessing patended, if you use any part of there course, they can turn around and sue you because it is a patend. The other thing that everyone on this website is missing is the liability issue. Prairie Master if you are trainer, you train this little kid, this 10 year old get serverly hurt, the parents can and probably will turn around sue the pants off of you (Prairie Master) and the ONFA. If I was going to do this and be a trainer, I would want to see the liability policy first. I would want to make sure I was covered. I would not take anyone's word for it either. This is serious stuff.

It is your OHV advisory board that has instituted this. It is them that you should speak with. The state doesn't want to assume the liability for a reason, the same reason why any of you should not assume the liability.

stewards,

Thanks for making something a little clearer.  And the USFS doesn't care who we use, they only want the same liability issue solved.

$75.00 for the course per kid? What kind of ticket is going to be written to a minor for not having this course and how are they gonna pay? What is supplied for that money? Atv for each kid to train on? Books for each kid? Lunch for each kid? How long is this course? How do you sign up? Is ocala the only place to get this training? Just some questions that come to my mind.

I am confused what does this have to do with the USFS -- the liability issues falls on you, not them. In reality they shouldn't even have to abid by the state rules, they are national.

It sounds like the dealers don't want to step up to the plate. That is who should institute this, they already do, so why re invinite the wheel.

I have no problem with my kids taking a safety course, regardless of the price.  Let's face it; there have been too many tragedies with kids riding ATVs and we have to start somewhere.  The question I do have regards engine displacement for different age groups.  These engine size restrictions were created when the vast majority of youth ATVs were powered by 2-stroke engines.  Now that the 2-strokes have been mostly replaced by 4-stroke engines, shouldn't the engine size restrictons be adjusted accordingly?  How do I tell my son that he has to park his 90cc race quad for 3 years and ride some anemic 4-stroke 69cc turd that can't even get out of its own way?  Granted, these restrictions are for public lands only, but the level of performance used for the initial guideline should remain consistent.  Not only that, how do you justify putting a 13-15-year-old kid on a 90cc quad?  The small size alone makes it dangerous for the kid not to mention his skills most likely far exceed the performance level of the quad.  These standards have to be re-visited.

the size restriction is only on when you take the course.  While we recommend that your child ride only the size the manufacturer recommends, we have no control over you and your child when the course is over.  The manufacturers are now looking at changing the size, however we must go with what is recommended now.  We are aslo told that if the child looks too big for the machine, we must refuse to train him and suggest he wait until he is 16.

Regarding the fine.  The Trail Rangers at the trailheads will be checking to make sure that your child has the Safety Certificate (in our case we will be issueing picture I.D.)  If you do not have that, they will kindly ask you to ride elsewhere.  The child will receive both a pictur I.D. and a handbook.  The course is about 3-4 hours.  We are working on getting dealers to provide us with some atv's  Ocala is only one place to take the course, it is given all over the state by the ATV Institute.  The link to there website is:

 http://www.atvsafety.org/

You will be enrolling through them, just specify the OHV Center in the Ocala National Forest if you want us to do the training, otherwise, choose whoever you want.

Hey grizz in your first post it states the institute provides all the material , why would you need to go to local dealers to find atv's, " As you stated  The course is about 3-4 hours.  We are working on getting dealers to provide us with some atv's  "

Prairie Master - I believe you are right. I took the road course and the off road course on my motorcycle, and they would supply a bike for you if you let them know ahead of time. I didn't take it from ATV Safety Institute, but from one that is similar. That is why I say there is more than one institute that will teach safety course. Whether any course offered by someone other than the ATV Safety institute, will be accepted by the state, is a different matter.

The course material does not include any personal equipment such as atv, helmet, boots, long sleeve shirt, gloves or goggles.  However, they do have a program setup with the manufacturers, through any dealer that want to participate, to lend atv's to the instructors.  However, the instructors are responsible to maintain, pickup and return the equipment with only normal wear and tear.  This may turn out to be a bigger burden then anyone wants to be responaible for.

good because we dont need any stupid laws made up by people that more than likely dont even ride atv's and think they know how to solve a problem. the parents should be responsible for there kids and what they ride. all i see is everyday the state wants more money for nothing.they close all of our good spots to ride and want us to pay more money to ride what a joke.......... show me where they really care show up at the atv rally with some good news about new places to ride and i will be glad to pay but until then they arent getting another dime from me.

Well said  ;D

 its good to hear your back and safe and enjoying what you were fighting for freedom. to bad there trying to take it away over here.

Tony are you going to durhamtown the week of march 18th. Also I'm ready to search for riding land  ;D

   The OHV committee worked on this for two years. I had neutral feelings on it when I heard about it, after all, we make our kids take driving lessons, have a permit for a year now, and we still have horrible car accidents. We are dealing with humans.

    Now, Stewards said something that I am curious about. This is the USFS we are talking about here. They manage the lands of the ONF, while the State manages the wildlife. This is my simple understanding of who this works. So, if that is the case, why do State Laws apply here? Maybe if we understood a little more about how this complex situation works, we can get on board and be a little more excited about this program?

   Also interesting,  if State law applies here, what else can we have State Law apply to; or is it only those State Laws that USFS deigns to allow to apply?

    Another curious question, how much grant money did ONFA get, and where did it come from?

   

were planning on going to dp for spring break in april 2 -6 i have to check the race schedule and i will let you know more. on the land issue im not ready till another year im waiting for my son to get out of high school. but this is something i really am looking forward too.

Can you supply us with the link that says they will not supply you with atv's etc. I can see not supply the shirts, shoes, gloves, helmets, etc. But as I stated in the course that I took there were aleast 20 bikes in the course trailer, ready to go if someone needed them.

Will the kids be graded on their ability to ride wheelies, cut sweet donuts and get get sick air? ;D.

Lisa I found this about the grant:


Today we received notification from the Internal Revenue Service that we have been awarde the status of a 501(c)3 non- profit.  This will allow us to obtain grants necessary to make great things happening.  We have already applied for a $50,000 grant that hopefully will be awarded at the OHV meeting on Sept 28th in Fort Myers.  This grant will allow us to provide training to Trail Rangers as SVIA instructors and First Responders.  The SVIA instructor status will allow us to provide the safety training course that the State is requiring all under 16 ATV riders to have be July 1, 2008.  We plan on having this training at least every month on a Saturday at the OHV Center.

This is only one of the things we will be doing.  Hopefully, after you go on the ride on Saturday, you will want to join us.  We will need all the volunteers we can get.
 
This was post under great news on Sept 26 2006 by grizzly
 

Why is the fee $75.00 when you can go through atvsaftey.org for $50.00 because of the age of the child? Age in question is 6yrs old. I just got off the phone with them and that is what I was advised.

not sure where you got the $50 fee.  Here is the link to the page with the fee on it;

https://online.svia.org/training/Enroll/EnrollIntro.aspx

When I called them to enroll in the class......that is what I was told the fee is..

  Thanks for answering PM. I was hoping Terry might answer though. At the last OHV meeting I was at, he told me that they hadn't gotten their grant yet; that is why I was asking what grant they actually got.

   I am confused by this sentence
   Is Division of Foresty requiring this as well? I had not attended the whole OHV meeting, so I am not sure whom the parties are that are requesting this course.

  I would also like to clarify an earlier post of Grizz's. Now if the instructors are waiving their fee, doesn't that bring the fee down from $75.00 to $40.00?

  What fee is ONFA trying to get sent to themselves? The instructor's fee? That was a very confusing post.

Looks like the USFS pick and choose the laws that will make them money.

The first answer is we have received no money from any grant.  We have finally gotton the paperwork, but no sign of money.  The Division of forestry , who is administering the grants and the new education requirement for minors under 16 is the organization that has said the education program must be an approved program that will accept liability in case of accident.  ATV RiderCourse is just that.  The grant includes money to buy the equipment to issue photo I.D., it does not include the material.  The ONFA will receive $35.00 back (you must pay $75.00 to the ATV Safety Institute).  We are going to keep $10.00 to cover costs and if acceptable to both the State and the ATV Safety Institute reimburse each parent the other $25.00.  None of the money will go to the USFS.

So what your saying the only reason the The Division of forestry is involved with this florida law is to approve a grant for the ONFA , because you can take the course through out florida through the atv institute. I'm trying to figure out what you guys are doing, are the safety courses going on in the rest of the state not good enough to be able to ride through out the national forest / or are my children going to have to take 2 courses. Just trying to understand ????

the Division of forestry is incharge of getting this law enacted properly.  The fact that they also administer the T. Mark Schmidt grants is a seperate function.  yes, you can take the safety course anywhere it is offered by the ATV Safety Institute. It is $75.00, if the instructor who makes $35.00 wants to give you any of that back, that is their call. The USFS will accept the course wherever it is given.  All we are trying to do is to hopefully be able to help meet the demand that is going to be there as a result of this law, and hopefully save the families some money.

If the division of forestry is administrating the grant money, and you are a partner of the USFS Ocala National Forest, uuuhhhmmm that would make you a real good candidate to recieve all kinds of grant monies.



And take more money out of our pockets.


Not directly -- but the USFS will see it in other ways.

Viper,

Your total lack of understanding of what is happening is amazing.  If you ever registered an atv in Florida, you know that is the money that is used for grants.  I am sure that somewhere here you have probably been upset with that money not being used for ATV's.  Well, you are right, we as a non profit are going to apply for grants to provide money for use in the Ocala National Forest.  We are going to (in the next cycle of grants) apply for a rescue trailer to get injured people out of the forest, we were thinking of getting a grant to provide picnic tables at each trailhead, and we are open to any good ideas anyone has.  If you believe we are taking money out of your pocket, why don't you come up and be a part of the organization.  We need trail rangers, and we need people with good ideas.  We also need people who can operate eqipment.

It is not my total lack of understanding but yours. How many people are forest service personal on this grant committee? It looks like I just hit a home run with you, a little touchy aren't you. That sounds like an awful lot of grant money to me, but yet you seem to want to charge everyone for a training course. Why have a school train the kids, aren't you suppose to train them, isn't that what the grant was for?? You train ONFA members in turn train the kids, now the state doesn't reconize that, a waste of grant money.

Grizzly,

I don't think its a lack of understanding , but more of perception of what is going on.

examples :

1. Greenstickers being used to show ownership and find new land for trails / trail maintenance by collecting sales tax and registration fees. / USFS Create a new trail system but want to charge a new permit fee to use it.

2. ONFA apply for grants to help facilities and equipment IE picnic tables at trail head and trail groomers / Shouldn't these funds come from the Division of forestry yearly budget.

3. ONFA applies for a grant to teach the kids the safety course. but the children are still being charged 75.00 to take the course. wasn't the grant applied for about 50,000. Thats a lot of money to teach trail rangers the safety course

A few questions:

1.  Was the ONFA create with partnership with the USFS to Maintain the trail system and facilities?

2.  Has anyone from the department of forestry offered a question and answer forum to be held at the ORV center on a weekend when people can attend and they can answer questions about what is going on with the forest /some examples: The trail system, logging, proposed permit fee ?

3. Will anyone from the ONFA or USFS be attending the upcoming  rally?

4. What checks and balances are in place in regards to board members of ONFA / USFS / Division of forestry in regards to grant money?

 I'm just tired of the state demanding more and more money from me everytime I use my 4 wheelers. I want to make sure the money I've spent in taxes and fees are being used for what they should be use for.

Well said prairie master - One other question to add to that, the fee system that is going into place 60 - 120 dollars, isn't that suppose to go to the trial system, picinic tables, groomers for trails, etc. If so why the grant, if not where will the money go?

Prarie Master,

Let me try to address your questions.

1. The Green stickers go to a STATE fund. Not the Federal Govt.  So the ONF gets none of it unless it applies for grants, similar to non profits and counties.  The registration fee is the same as the green stickers.  The sales tax goes to the state general fund.

2. The division of forestry general fund has nothing to do with the ONF which is a federal forest.  Therefore no inclusion in the state budget.

3. The $49,600 grant from the T. Mark Schmidt fund includes many items, training the trail rangers, building a safety course,  training TR as first responders,  and how to evaluate the sound requirement of atv's and for gas to patrol the forest.  It was not just for the safety training.

The ONFA was created to "Partner with the USFS to provide sustainable recreation in the Ocala National Forest"  To do this we intent to apply for grant money to provide items the USFS is not providing.  In addition we intent to provide volunteers to do what ever we can.  Right now we are trying to train volunteers to provide service at the trailheads they are building and patrol the trails.  This could take about 200 people. We do not have the people to maintain the trails.

I can have people from the USFS at the cleanup ride on June 9th to answer questions if people want.  Yes, I will be at the upcoming rally.

ONFA must account to the state for every dollar they give us (whenever we finally get it).  As a non profit we must also file IRS papers yearly.

The fee the USFS is proposing is a user fee, similar to camping and other services the USFS provides. (95% of what they charge must go back into the activity.  This should mean that in the future the trails sould be well maintained. 

By the way, the grant committee has absolutely no one from the USFS on it.

hopefully I have answered your questions.

This is just another good reason that we need to find legal riding areas that are privately owned and operated like Durhamtown, etc. Keeping THE GOVERNMENT out of our personal business is the only way we can ever have any reasonable rights and freedoms when it comes to riding! Nothing but a bunch of red tape crap that ultimately leads to more taxes (fees) and ridiculous rules and laws!

Grizzly

thankyou for your response : Just a few more questions

1. If the green stickers are state issues why do they (trail rangers) enforce the rules on out of state people its a federal forest right?

2. The Department of Agriculture has a budget, which the USFS work for / has there been any funding for the trail system from them? 

3. Are you saying if the ONFA wasn't around the trail system would have never been and trails closed because of the lack of people to maintain trails ? Again wouldn't that fall under the USfS if they created the trail system you would think they would have proposed in there budget to maintain it and not have to rely on private organizations.

4. As for the permit fee , other national forest in the nation have fees, but I've not seen them as drastically high as the proposed ones in the ocala forest.  Do you know the reason behind the drastic proposed fees?


Thanks

The Forest Sercive is trying (though they don't have to) go along with the states, including Florida. They like the idea of the green sticker as it proves ownership.  The ask out of state people to bring proof of ownership, they do not have to but the green sticker(registration sticker).  The Trail Rangers enforce nothing.  They are volunteers.  The War in Iraq has severely hurt the Dept of Ag budget. The funding for the trails system construction came from an RTP grant and the vault toilet for the Trailheads is from a state grant.  If the trail system is to work it must stand on its own.  Hence the fee system.  The amount you see mentioned of up to $150 was only an upper limit, they are trying for $75.00 per year and $10 per day.  I have lobbied for and additional break for families (2 adults and up to 5 children)  Nothing is definate as the fee committee has not even met.  It will probably be July or later before you see any fees. 

And to answer your question about ONFA.  The system was in the planning and design long before there ever was an ONFA.  Partnering with non-profits is just an additional way to get volunteers and grant money to enhance the trail system.

Thanks for the info

And what kind of freedoms do we have at durhamtown? :dunno.gif Same one way trails!  :dunno.gifSame trail rangers making sure we don't break the rules?  :dunno.gifIt cost you $20.00 to ride at durhamtown 1 day thats 60 to 100 dollars for 3 - 5 day stay ONLY!! Maybe 40 miles of one way trails on ONF at 100 a year isn't so bad, :dunno.gif seen the new rules a d-town recently? Seen the trouble they had last year just to stay open? just some observations

does this new law mean that my 6 year old will not be able to ride his grizzly 90 in onf after jul o8? he has been riding on his own for two years ???

Terry:

Some of the things you have stated here are not entirely correct. First I think one should explain about the grants. It is my understanding that you have recieved the grant. If you didn't my question to you is where is the money coming from to do the training of trail rangers?

First the OHV advisory board (the board that is appointed by the state) started by Jack Terrell and several other people. The OHV advisory board main responsiblilty is to oversee the OHV's in the state of Florida. That can be from finding a place to ride, to helping a person get a Mark T.Schmidt grant, and everything inbetween.
The people on this board are 3 State Rangers, 2 Florida Trail Riders, 1 Dealer, 1 average Joe Smo, 1 OGT person. To me the deck is stacked??

The green sticker program is both State and Federal. The green sticker program is to prevent theft, that is all that is for. If you don't have a green sticker, you should have the paper work to prove you own the machine. My problem with this is the ONF has given tickets out for not having a sticker and no paper work.

Where does the money come from to supply the Mark T. Schmidt Bill or the Mark T. Schmidt grant - the green sticker program is part of it, but a small part of it. Majority of the money comes from your gasoline taxes. Yes, so everyone is paying. The state screwed up the sticker program by making it a one time deal, and not every year.


Sound Equipment for ATV's there should be no evaluation. The decibals just went up, so that would make your machine louder. It went from 96 to 99. There is no evaluation, sound equipment has been in effect forever.

Lets look at gas to patrol the forest -- that should come out of the Federal Budget. For every volunteer hour that you put into a Forest System Federal, they get 18.00 dollars in return. That means when I volunteer my time, and even though I might get 10.00 back the Federal government gets 18.00 in exchange. For every hour I put in that is worth 18.00 dollars in grant money. Do the math folks.

Let's address this question - according to Tallahassee where the grant money gets evaluated, according to the grant committee, they will not supply money for training. If that is true how did ONFA get grant money for training trial rangers?


This I find interesting and don't understand -- Federal government applying for State Funds?

According to the Federal Register a lot more private companies are going to get involved with the forest. For example a lot of the campgrounds will be run by private organizations. Another words the USFS is getting out of the campground business. Here was a money maker - imagine if I owned a hotdog stand at big scrub campground and ran the campground, I bet I would be rich by now.

The grant committee has several environmentalist on it, and I believe forest service personal.

Liability on the USFS - there is a law in Florida that releases all liablilty from public land, besides that the USFS has a ton of lawyers on their side to fight such cases. So the USFS has no liability if the people are using their land, unless the person who got hurt can prove that it was USFS fault.

Terry was right in some of what he stated I just think this makes it clearer, who these people are and what is going on. In another two or three years the places to ride your OHV will be private land, every where else will be closed.

Jack

  Good post Jack. You are right the OHV committee is a stacked deck.

  At the meeting I went to here in Ocala, it seemed to me that USFS practially ran that meeting. They had way too much involvement, way too much input, and way too much influence!

  As far as the fees go PM, USFS seemed very proud that they were the ones making strides to having such huge fees. Jim Schmidt was the one speaking about the fees in ONF btw.

   Jack, I had the same question, why is a federal agency taking our state money? That should be for our state, not for the feds. They get enough money from us as it is, and when they start getting their fees, are they going to quit taking grants? Obviously not with ONFA in place......

Who have you lobbied to - the committee has not met yet? Who is the committee?

We have not received the grant money.  The ATV Safety Institute had a week long seminar in Orlando for there master instructors in January.  Part of that seminar involved riding and evaluating different atv's that they had brought in from Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia and a local dealer.  We provided the facility and the people to coordinate the ride and in return, they provided us the intial training.

Grizz:

Let see if I can help you out a little bit here. Jack did a pretty good job, but not all the facts are there.

The OHV advisory board:

Effective July 1, 2003, the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee is created within the Division of Forestry and consists of nine members, all of whom are appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The appointees shall include one representative of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, one representative of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, one representative of the Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails, one representative of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, one citizen with scientific expertise in disciplines relating to ecology, wildlife biology, or other environmental sciences, one representative of a licensed off-highway vehicle dealer, and three representatives of off-highway vehicle recreation groups. In making these appointments, the commissioner shall consider the places of residence of the members to ensure statewide representation.

Mark T Shcmidt Bill - 261.12  Designated off-highway vehicle funds within the Incidental Trust Fund of the Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.--

(1)  The designated off-highway vehicle funds of the trust fund shall consist of deposits from the following sources:

(a)  Fees paid to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for the titling of off-highway vehicles.

(b)  Revenues and income from any other sources required by law or as appropriated by the Legislature to be deposited into the trust fund as designated off-highway vehicle funds.

(c)  Donations from private sources that are designated as off-highway vehicle funds.

(d)  Interest earned on designated off-highway vehicle funds on deposit in the trust fund.

(2)  Designated off-highway vehicle funds in the trust fund shall be available for recommended allocation by the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and upon annual appropriation by the Legislature, exclusively for the following:

(a)  Implementation of the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Program by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which includes personnel and other related expenses; administrative and operating expenses; expenses related to safety, training, rider education programs, management, maintenance, and rehabilitation of lands in the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Program's system of lands and trails; and, if funds are available, acquisition of lands to be included in the system and the management, maintenance, and rehabilitation of such lands.

(b)  Approved grants to governmental agencies or entities or nongovernmental entities that wish to provide or improve off-highway vehicle recreation areas or trails for public use on public lands, provide environmental protection and restoration to affected natural areas in the system, provide enforcement of applicable regulations related to the system and off-highway vehicle activities, or provide education in the operation of off-highway vehicles.

(c)  Matching funds to be used to match grant funds available from other sources.

(3)  Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance of designated off-highway vehicle funds in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain therein and shall be available for the purposes set out in this section and as otherwise provided by law.

Now if you go to this link and read the rest of the law, you might want to quit complaining. Jack has made some vaild points, so has the link below.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0261/SEC20.HTM&Title=->2006->Ch0261->Section%2020#0261.20

Joan
Stewards

Has anyone posting here read the T. Mark Schmidt Act ??

The grant program is not just fill out a application and you get the money, it is complicated.

The safety training is something NPORA has been pursuing for several months and we have run into the same road blocks as ONFA. but we are still moving forward with our training facility.

Keep up the good work Terry....

IF you have not recieved grant money how are you doing the training courses.

Are there any ATVs for rent at this class?  I have an 8 year old that rides a 90cc and was told he can't take the class unless he has a 50cc.

I have the same issue ,I can borrow a 50cc but it does not have the green sticker is it needed
 :ThumbsUp.gif

I''l just call to make the appointment and tell them he is 12, then the course will be free also.

Green stickers are not required.

My daughter has been riding for 6 years and is an awesome and safe rider.  We have ridden ONF for many years, Durhamtown, NC, TN, WV, etc.  She turns 16 in September.  Does not seem worth it for me to pay $75 to have her ride maybe once between July 1 and her birthday in September...am I correct that she will not need the ID after she turns 16?

Once she is 16 she will not need the training. I would wait.

I have the same problem my son will turns 16 in september also. but i called and being i bought a 90 back in 2000 they sign him up for free he now rides a 450 and races he also been riding for over 10 years but now we no longer have the 90 the lady on the phone said dont worry he can just stand and watch so we will see the class is this sunday at L-cross 9:00

We are a family of 6, our youngest is 4 he has been riding with a restrictor on the 50 since he was 2 years old riding in the forest his whole life. Now there are no classes offered to him until he is 6?!?!? What now do we risk the fine?!?!? also my 15 year old son is 6ft.170lbs. our LT80 wont even go with him on it, what if the instructor refuses him, will they let him ride a larger atv to take the safety course. thanks!

Your 15 yr old can sign up as an observer, this will qualify him to ride on public land.  However, your 4 yr old will not be able to ride on public land until he is 6 and has taken the safety course.  The ATV Safety Institute will not allow us to give the course to anyone under 6, and they are tyhe only cousre approved by the State of Florida.

grizzlybear I have a 06 bike and the booklet with my reciept has a paper to take the course free for mr and my IMMEDIATE  family which is thw wife,daughter(10), son(7) and I how can I make this happen and what do I do? thanks

go to atvsafety.org and get the 800 number.  If you want to take it at the O)HV Center, we can do the family in one class, even if they make you sign up for the morning and afternoon class.