(Submitted By Peter Sandstrom, 02/06/02)

Here's a copy of the MVTR opposition letter you can send to the various representatives in Concord to oppose the HB-1273 bill, now working it's way through committee to the house floor. You can cut and paste this text off to your favorite word processor and go from there.  

 

It looks like the main committee will be meeting and voting on this next Tuesday (2/12/02) so try to get this out to the representatives listed below ASAP.

 

-- pds

________________________________________________________

(The Cover Explanation)

Greetings MVTR Members:

Wheeled Off highway recreational vehicle users are facing some immediate challenges to their sport. It’s called house bill 1273-FN, and it’s impact could have some very negative consequences for you. The bill’s "original intent" was to create more places for WORV users to ride their trail bikes and 4-wheelers. But what’s surfaced is quit a bit different…

    1. Excessive WOHRV sticker fee increases
    2. Banning the sport for youth under 12 years
    3. Virtual ban on creation of new WORV parks (i.e. like Clough)
    4. More bureaucratic red tape for dealers and users

To see past events on how we’ve gotten to where we are check out the club’s web-site at www.mvtr.org. Click on the link to the "MVTR Activist" and you’ll see everything from previous MVTR and Granite State ATV (GSATV) commentary to the actual bill itself.

We are at critical stage and need to strongly oppose this legislation. If we don’t it will become law and give us what you see above. That said we need you, the MVTR member, to send the enclosed letter to some or all of following the representatives listed below. Enter you name, address, sign, and get into the mail at the latest February 7th.

If we can show overwhelming opposition to this bill we’ve got a good chance of sending this bad legislation back to the sub-committee that drafted it, and try to work with them to fix it. But if we do nothing then we get what we get. So please take a few minutes and get some letters out to these folks. They really do look at this sort of thing and it does make a difference.

Sincerely

Peter Sandstrom, MVTR’s appointed board member to GSATV

P.S. also try to show up at the hearing in Concord and show those drafting this legislation that you are a force, and that you can’t be ignored. At this time it looks like it will be on Tuesday, February 12th, 2002. As soon as we know the exact date and time we’ll post it on the web-site.

Also, by the time you get this mailing a copy of the letter should be on the web-site that you will be able to download.

The B-1273 Ranking Committee Members- your first two letter should go here. Mr. Lawton and Mr. Royce are key ranking members on the main committee responsible for voting to send the legislation to the house floor, or not.

David M. Lawton

92 Corliss Hill Rd

Meredith, NH 03253-5202

 

H Charles Royce

296 Mountain Rd

Jaffrey, NH 03452-5932

The B-1273 Sub-Committee Chairman- your third letter should go here. Mr. Gallus is the head of the 5 member sub-committee responsible crafting HB-1273.

John T. Gallus

292 Prospect St

Berlin, NH 03570-2137

Committee Members- These are the rest of the members of that make up the "NH State Resources, Recreation, and Development Committee". They will vote on whether or not this bill should be sent to the house for a full vote to make law. If you’ve got the energy and stamps send a letter to all of them. If not pick the once closest to you.

Robert Odell

PO Box 23

Lempster, NH 03605-0023

 

Richard T. Cooney

2 Samoset Dr

Salem, NH 03079-1532

 

William E. Roberts

183 Tower Hill Rd

Hinsdale, NH 03451-2536

 

Dennis H. Fields

PO Box 370

Merrimack, NH 03054-0370

 

Stanley E. Czech

PO Box 755

Alton, NH 03809-0755

 

David H. Russell

PO Box 60

Gilmanton I W, NH 03837-0060

 

Pierre W. Bruno

603 Lyndeboro Rd

New Boston, NH 03070-1224

 

D L Chris Christensen

27 Greatstone Dr

Merrimack, NH 03054-2342

 

Glenn E. Dewhirst

1061 Union Ave

Laconia, NH 03246-2114

 

Lee W. Quimby

PO Box 286

Ctr Sandwich, NH 03227-0286

 

Judith T. Spang

55 Wiswall Rd

Durham, NH 03824-4420

 

Carol A. Williams

127 Prout Ave #1 rear

Manchester, NH 03103-2840

 

Roland J. Lefebvre

19 Dane St

Nashua, NH 03060-5835

 

Sid Lovett

PO Box 690

Holderness, NH 03245-0690

 

Roger T. Zerba

340 Pako Ave

Keene, NH 03431-5023

 

Robert M. McGuire

114 N Policy St

Salem, NH 03079-1955

 

Deanna P. Rush

640 Buck St

Pembroke, NH 03275-3018

Your Representative- last, send a letter to the representative in your district. You can find out who that is on the web at...

 www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/whosmyleg/

________________________________________________________

(The Opposition Letter)

 

Date:

Name:

Address:

City, State Zip Code:

 

Dear Representative ...:

I am writing to oppose HB 1273-FN as it is currently written on four major points:

    1. I oppose the excessive increase in fees. I believe all OHRV registration should be the same regardless of type of motorized vehicle being used. I respectfully request that fees paid by ATV/Trail bike users are dedicated to that user's direct benefit. The intense concentration of wheeled OHRV use in a very limited number of riding areas combined with the steady increase of users has exacerbated the issues. Currently, the disproportionate allocation of registration fees is a fundamental cause of the complaints of abuse by wheeled vehicles. The Study Committee established under HB 717 identified that the need for additional riding areas is critical to resolution of this problem. I respectfully submit that a close review of the current fees will reveal that the fees being collected from the wheeled users, if appropriately allocated are already more than sufficient to fund all the subcommittee's initial recommendations. Unfortunately, the fees collected have traditionally been used for other projects not related to law enforcement, trail development, and safety and education of the wheeled vehicle users community.
    2. I oppose any change in the law that would restrict youth operation of ATV/Trail bikes. Motorized recreation is a family sport and I am extremely concerned that this legislation as it is written would effectively ban youth from the opportunity to join in supervised recreational activities. Current Safety and education classes are at capacity, which demonstrates that this community of users desire to instill responsible riding and competent skills in our children. I support these programs as an opportunity to create generation of riders that understand the impacts of their actions and accept their personal responsibilities. A ban on youth riding will be detrimental to our children's safety and ultimately to the very goals of all of us - responsible use. Prevention rather than punishment should be the guiding factor in this decision process.
    3. I oppose the "Evaluation Criteria" as it is written. The science is flawed and has failed to include the most current scientific data and studies, as is currently the basis for all new criteria regarding environmental issues. It is questionable if any New Hampshire lands could meet all the criteria, consequently making the primary goal of this legislation - to provide the opportunity for development of additional trails for wheeled vehicles - a mute point. .
    4. I oppose the requirement of a disclosure statement from the retail dealers and rental agents. This is regulation for the sake of regulation. The responsible dealers will voluntarily provide appropriate information to all users. It is unfair to require them to become unpaid agents of the State and expend time and money without compensation.

As a person required by law to pay a user fee to recreate on New Hampshire public lands I oppose this legislation as it unduly increases my fees, restricts my family recreational opportunity, and fails to implement best scientific practices for evaluation of and development of off-highway recreational trails. I respectfully request you return this Amendment to HB 1273-FN back to the committee with recommendations for further study and inclusion of the users community and current science or find it inexpedient to legislation.

Thank you for your consideration of my recommendations and I welcome any direct contact to discuss this matter in more depth.

Sincerely,

    Your Signature & Address