HB174

This bill proposes a monstrous increase in weight and size for these motorized nuisance vehicles that already destroy our forest environment by creating alteration of the terrain in ways that cannot be properly maintained, cared for and repaired. The proposed new weight limit would allow side by side ATVs to become the size of trucks and SUVs. It would turn an already scarred landscape into dug roads and ravines crisscrossing our greatest land resources with horrible consequences for our water resources, wetlands and upland natural environment. The motorized recreational vehicles are a destructive and noisy nuisance, and this bill would make the problem 4 times bigger. Again, this is an insane proposal and totally unnecessary. It would prefer the foreign manufacturers of these monstrous vehicles over the interests of our non-motorized recreational interests, residents and wildlife. Please ITL this bill.

The HB 1188 "Commission to Study OHRV use in the state” has not taken a vote on any of these bills. This commission was created to come up with comprehensive solutions. Passage of individual bills undermines the purpose and effectiveness of the Commission. This bill increases the weight of UTVs allowed on state land - but since the majority of OHRV trail systems are on private lands (or town roads) have any of those property owners been alerted to this change? Please vote to ITL this proposal or send it to the HB 1188 Commission for comprehensive consideration.