D
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Guest
http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16161838&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6
Robin
Moderator
I am bothered by this article in so many ways 
Let me preface by saying that I am on the CT Forestry Council's Recreation Committee and the ATV crowd has yet to send a consistent rep to these meetings to work for access. The State and the DEP will work with the ATVs - there is a plan in place - but the ATVs refuse to register at purchase. The State won't designate trails without this agreement.
There are 70,000 claimed ATVs in the State of CT yet only 2,500 are registered. The State/DEP's position is - prove it. This issue is going to continue to be cyclical until someone gives in and does what needs to be done.
It's funny that a public hearing on the draft Recreation Plan prepared by the DEP was held a couple months ago and the ATV crowd was again unrepresented. The fullsize 4x4s were there, the non-motorized crowd was there.
I sympathize with their plight as we are in the same situation with no public trails. But guess what? Fullsize 4x4s are holding meetings, scouting land, and following the advice of the State. The State and DEP are not going to do this for us.
Hiking groups worked very hard for the 400 miles of hiking trails - these were not handed to them on a silver platter by the State or the DEP. Hikers are in just as much danger of losing their trails but we dismiss it all because they currently have them.
If these guys want to get serious, come to the Recreation Committee meetings, listen, participate with consistency and don't expect to have everything handed to you wrapped in a pretty bow. I hope to meet these guys one day and hope we can all work together for access.
Let me preface by saying that I am on the CT Forestry Council's Recreation Committee and the ATV crowd has yet to send a consistent rep to these meetings to work for access. The State and the DEP will work with the ATVs - there is a plan in place - but the ATVs refuse to register at purchase. The State won't designate trails without this agreement.
There are 70,000 claimed ATVs in the State of CT yet only 2,500 are registered. The State/DEP's position is - prove it. This issue is going to continue to be cyclical until someone gives in and does what needs to be done.
It's funny that a public hearing on the draft Recreation Plan prepared by the DEP was held a couple months ago and the ATV crowd was again unrepresented. The fullsize 4x4s were there, the non-motorized crowd was there.
I sympathize with their plight as we are in the same situation with no public trails. But guess what? Fullsize 4x4s are holding meetings, scouting land, and following the advice of the State. The State and DEP are not going to do this for us.
Hiking groups worked very hard for the 400 miles of hiking trails - these were not handed to them on a silver platter by the State or the DEP. Hikers are in just as much danger of losing their trails but we dismiss it all because they currently have them.
If these guys want to get serious, come to the Recreation Committee meetings, listen, participate with consistency and don't expect to have everything handed to you wrapped in a pretty bow. I hope to meet these guys one day and hope we can all work together for access.
Z
Zookie400
Guest
i hear your complaints, and maybe this will help you understand why nobody is at your meetings.
1-there is a group of people who believe the ATV is the devil and should be banned from the US (just like the trike was). I am one of many who is fighting this BS right now.
2-many ATV enthusiasts are motocrossers, and are fighting to keep the local tracks open. The practice track at Rocky Hill, CT last year was almost shut down, and the town meetings continue still to shorten our riding hours. Milford riders opened up their track to atvs, and immediatly shut it down after an atv rider slammed into a tree and broke his neck. apparently the bike riders never get hurt...?
3-atv riders dont have a huge need to fight for legal trails because...WE ALREADY HAVE THEM! during the spring summer and fall months, snowmobile trails are open to atvs. (in the winter our machines are at detours getting gussets and cracks repaired :mrgreen: ) it would be nice to have more legal areas, perhaps some in CT even!
dont take this the wrong way....but 2500 are registered with whome? i have about 4 different organizations i am registered with just to be allowed to race. is there a government run registration?
It may be worth writing these guys to get involvement from ATVA/AMA
http://www.atvaonline.com/rights.asp
when/where is the next meeting? i might be able to get some of the ATV crowd to show.
1-there is a group of people who believe the ATV is the devil and should be banned from the US (just like the trike was). I am one of many who is fighting this BS right now.
2-many ATV enthusiasts are motocrossers, and are fighting to keep the local tracks open. The practice track at Rocky Hill, CT last year was almost shut down, and the town meetings continue still to shorten our riding hours. Milford riders opened up their track to atvs, and immediatly shut it down after an atv rider slammed into a tree and broke his neck. apparently the bike riders never get hurt...?
3-atv riders dont have a huge need to fight for legal trails because...WE ALREADY HAVE THEM! during the spring summer and fall months, snowmobile trails are open to atvs. (in the winter our machines are at detours getting gussets and cracks repaired :mrgreen: ) it would be nice to have more legal areas, perhaps some in CT even!
Robin said:
dont take this the wrong way....but 2500 are registered with whome? i have about 4 different organizations i am registered with just to be allowed to race. is there a government run registration?
It may be worth writing these guys to get involvement from ATVA/AMA
http://www.atvaonline.com/rights.asp
when/where is the next meeting? i might be able to get some of the ATV crowd to show.
Robin
Moderator
Thanks - believe me, I'm not against ATVs - I love them :grinyes: I don't have one and mainly spend my time in the Jeep. I would love to see all of us looking for more motorized access working together. Our next meeting is 2/28/06 at Sliders in Berlin, 6pm INFO HERE. Spread the word to your friends and ask them to show.
I completely understand about being perceived as the devil - multiply your machine by 10 and you get mine :wink: Showing responsibility and attending these meetings with an open mind is helpful. I've been to the last couple and they are not unwilling to work with us. ATV representation is missing but still the bulk of the meeting is taken by ATV discussion. If the Committee could get 1 dedicated person to attend that can speak for their groups and bring back information it could be extremely beneficial to everyone.
Nothing taken wrong at all - the 2,500 ATVs are registered with the DMV. The main sticking point, from what I understand, between the CT/DEP and the ATV groups is registering their ATVs at purchase. Registering an ATV is necessary if an ATV is going to be riden off of one's private property and right now is voluntary. However, riders are taking their ATVs off their property and many are riding illegally. If they are caught by a hiker, horseback rider, etc. they can't be identified and ticketed as with Jeeps/fullsize 4x4s. The State wants ATVs to be required to register (yup, reg fees and personal property taxes) and the ATVs don't want to. And it continues to go round and round.
I completely understand about being perceived as the devil - multiply your machine by 10 and you get mine :wink: Showing responsibility and attending these meetings with an open mind is helpful. I've been to the last couple and they are not unwilling to work with us. ATV representation is missing but still the bulk of the meeting is taken by ATV discussion. If the Committee could get 1 dedicated person to attend that can speak for their groups and bring back information it could be extremely beneficial to everyone.
Nothing taken wrong at all - the 2,500 ATVs are registered with the DMV. The main sticking point, from what I understand, between the CT/DEP and the ATV groups is registering their ATVs at purchase. Registering an ATV is necessary if an ATV is going to be riden off of one's private property and right now is voluntary. However, riders are taking their ATVs off their property and many are riding illegally. If they are caught by a hiker, horseback rider, etc. they can't be identified and ticketed as with Jeeps/fullsize 4x4s. The State wants ATVs to be required to register (yup, reg fees and personal property taxes) and the ATVs don't want to. And it continues to go round and round.
Z
Zookie400
Guest
the DMV really? i actually bought mine new in 03, a friend of mine in 04, and another in 05.....never even heard of the dmv wanting us to register. ill have to look into it. i know about registering in NH and VT for the trail use....but never heard of anyone registering in CT.
D
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Guest
I all did was go to ct.gov/dmv and search for 'atv'.
http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?A=810&Q=285500
http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?A=810&Q=285500
beaker
Active member
I know a few owners and their comment on registration was, "WHY?" With no legal land except private in the state of CT. The registration only generates cash for the state however the state does nothing for the ATV riders in exchange for their money.
The state is holding a very negative position that makes it nearly impossible to get people to register. The offer is "Get enough people to register and we may do something." That's not a real motivating setup there.
The state is holding a very negative position that makes it nearly impossible to get people to register. The offer is "Get enough people to register and we may do something." That's not a real motivating setup there.
D
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Guest
Why? Enduros. Find some of the old-timer NETRA enduro guys and ask them. It's right there on the link posted above:
"A CT registration is issued to a licensed driver for crossing a public roadway at a 90% angle only. ATV's are prohibited from being operating on any public roadway other than crossing at a 90% angle."
That just reeks of enduro usage. Not that enduros reek- I dig them.
"A CT registration is issued to a licensed driver for crossing a public roadway at a 90% angle only. ATV's are prohibited from being operating on any public roadway other than crossing at a 90% angle."
That just reeks of enduro usage. Not that enduros reek- I dig them.
Robin
Moderator
Right - registering an ATV with the DMV is a voluntary program right now. ATV riders that illegally ride are unregistered and therefore untraceable to the owner.
Like I said, the state isn't going to budge on this issue. ATVs aren't going to budge. Where does it end? Big Brother isn't going to change their position so I suggest someone consistent from the ATV community come to the Recreation Committee meetings and work something out.
IMO the State is much more cooporative now than I understand they have been in the past.
ATV Policy and Procedures
Like I said, the state isn't going to budge on this issue. ATVs aren't going to budge. Where does it end? Big Brother isn't going to change their position so I suggest someone consistent from the ATV community come to the Recreation Committee meetings and work something out.
IMO the State is much more cooporative now than I understand they have been in the past.
ATV Policy and Procedures
D
/dev/null
Guest
I know NETRA gave up years ago and changed their orientation to secureing private land instead, however they have 'over 2800 members' (see web site- netra.org) and I know personally how organized they are. They would be the ones to contact.
Robin
Moderator
NETRA sent a guy back in Nov. and they haven't been heard from since :sad: I have the utmost respect for NETRA and know how hard they work. We hope that we can partner with them in the future. This isn't going to be easy and we're just getting started for fullsize 4x4 use of public land. But we have to try and in the meantime ask the community not to ride illegally.
Until we all start to work together - the entire motorized community - and put some real numbers behind our requests we'll continue to be pushed aside. Unfortunately our congress people only care about who is going to vote for them.
Until we all start to work together - the entire motorized community - and put some real numbers behind our requests we'll continue to be pushed aside. Unfortunately our congress people only care about who is going to vote for them.
