Friends of the Forest

[needforspeed]

The final draft was on November 2, 2005. I heard that now it is final the appeals have to be addressed, before anything offical goes into place. JW on doing your research and maybe some help here is a website I found.
nohvcc.org

[needforspeed]

I found this on a website:

This story is provided courtesy of http://www.motorcyclenewswire.com/
and is intended for personal use ONLY.

Florida Enacts Off-Highway Vehicle Trails Law

June 15, 2002
Story Location: www.americanmotor.com/news.cfm?newsid=2008

Florida, USA (MCNW) Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed into law on May 30,
2002, the "T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Recreation
Act," legislation that requires the Division of Forestry to develop and
maintain a system of OHV recreation areas and trails on public lands.
This legislation, backed by the Motorcycle Industry Council, also calls
for a report to be submitted to the governor and the Florida Legislature
by January 1, 2003 recommending five locations for public access and OHV
recreational use. The division also must publish a guidebook to include
laws and regulations relating to the program and maps of the system's
OHV areas and trails.
"Our efforts to enact the legislation have at times been frustrating,
but in the end paid off with the passage of this milestone trails law in
Florida," said MIC's Vice President of Government Relations, Kathy Van
Kleeck. "I commend the Legislature for recognizing the need to provide
OHV riding opportunities in the state and I commend the Florida Trail
Riders for working so tirelessly to communicate this need to their
elected officials."

Van Kleeck sees the new legislation as a first step toward improving
Florida OHV recreation. The law requires OHV titling fees be used to
fund the program. However, OHV registration fees, which are paid
annually and provide a larger base of revenue, are a preferred funding
source, she said.

"Legislators were reluctant to impose additional fees, especially before
the program is up and running and providing benefits to Florida riders,"
Van Kleeck said.

This MIC-backed legislation is named in honor of the late Florida
motorcycle dealer Mark Schmidt, who had ardently supported creation of a
state trails program. For several years, MIC has taken the lead in
advocating legislation to provide off-highway motorcycle and ATV riding
opportunities in the state, in cooperation with the Florida Trail Riders
and local dealers. The Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1681 on the
last day of its 2002 session.

MIC President Tim Buehe cites enactment of this law as an excellent
example of MIC working together with rider and dealer groups to protect
and enhance the future of OHV recreation.

"MIC will continue to work in the state to provide viable funding for
ongoing development and maintenance of the trails system," he said.

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is a not-for-profit, national
trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of
motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, scooters, motorcycle parts and
accessories and members of allied trades located in Irvine, California.

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[lisa]

 Hi guys,
 
 I am working on the Babcock Ranch thing. However, from what Brett Bush, Recreational Manager of the ONF has told me, this ruling will not affect any of Florida's forests. I have posted about it on my message board. (Link is in my sig.)

  It stinks, I agree. There is so much we need to do to clean up the PR image of OHVs/ORVs. I talked with Mr. Wiley this moring about the Babcock Ranch deal. I told him; "Personally, I beleive we should allow cross-country on all public lands; realistically, I understand that privalige has been abused and that some kind of compromise must be made."

  If we were policing ourselvs like the airboaters are (I will tell anyone that story that wants to hear it) we would not be having half the trouble there is out there for all of us.

  I do not make the distinction between licensed/unlicensed. Why? Because eventually, they will come after the licensed as they are coming after you. We need to stand united on all issues!

  Now, back to work on the phone!