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STAY UP TO DATE WITH LEGISLATIVE ISSUES EFFECTING OUR SPORT
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A Message From NETRA |
 NHOHVA presents an announcement from New England Trail Riders Association President Jim Sherman:
In Massachusetts, John Bartley has been working diligently (meeting with members of the House and Senate, clerks, etc.) to have the ATV Revision Bill (SB01996 which had been renumbered to SB02199) moved out of committee to a floor vote.
It is critical that all MA residents take a few minutes, communicate, and get the message to the Senate that this Bill must be moved forward.
Friday, April 27, 2012, John met with Shane Blundell, Associate Counsel and Jennifer Saubermann, General Counsel to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Shane was assigned SB02199 and he brought in his boss for the meeting. John briefed them on the history of the Bill, his extensive negotiations with Senate Presidents Office and Massachusetts Audubon, and NETRA's desire for a further amendment regarding exemption of participants of sanctioned events from registration. According to John the discussions went well. He did tell them our main intent is to get a Bill through the legislature and we would accept the Bill as voted favorably from the Transportation Committee.
The critical person at the moment that needs to hear the message to get SB 02199 moved positively is Senator Stephen M. Brewer.
NETRA meet with and follow up with the Chair - Senator Brewer. It is towards this end , that we need to support their efforts. For this reason it is critical to get the local outreach from NETRA members (in the Commonwealth of Mass and outside Mass since the passage of this Bill affects the entire riding community).
It doesn't make a difference if you ride in NETRA events or not - if you ride off road YOU need to support this Bill.
While the Bill has provisions we would all rather not have, it does provide us relief form the most onerous provisions of the ATV Bill which passed last year. By way of this email I am asking you to communicate with Sen. Brewer's office, that as a rider, as a member of NETRA, we urgently need to have this Bill moved forward and have his support in its current form. We can live with the educational requirement for those persons under the age of eighteen and in state residents' registration since twenty-five percent of the registration fees are to go to acquiring land for off-road trails and/or to maintaining trails.
We must get the requirement that out of state riders have to register their vehicles in order to participate in sanctioned NETRA events (or any other organizations sanctioned events) eliminated.
The only way is through SB02199.
If you want to discuss this further please contact John Bartley at 617 720-2060 or email him at:
[email protected].
To contact Senator Stephen M. Brewer, you can write him, call him or email him.
Senator Brewer's contact information is as follows. His district office address is "Tatman House, 20 Common Street, Barre, MA 01005", his State House address is: State House, 24 Beacon Street, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133. Sen. Brewer's phone number is 617 722-1540, and his fax it 617 722-1078. Probably the best and easiest way to reach him is by email at:
[email protected].
Corresponding with our Representatives and Senators makes a difference. During the past ten days the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association learned of an issue with one of the Bills the organization is supporting. Through the efforts of the Board reaching out to the membership and the membership communicating (mainly through emails) the Bill in question was discussed and the vote was tabled for a later date. Without the support of the MMA membership, this Bill would have been defeated.
It is time for all of us to come together and make a difference.
Please send this email to your club members and ask for their support and action. Thanks.
Jim Sherman
NETRA President
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On the NHOHVA Docket | |
 NHOHVA is fighting for your right to ride! NHOHVA is keeping a vigilant eye out for any potential threats to our sport here in New Hampshire and around the country. Our work is never done and we will never rest! These are some of the issues NHOHVA is currently working on and where we stand with each issue.
Remember NHOHVA is here working for you and your right to enjoy our sport. Here is the procedural posture of a few of the items on our docket:
- SB0366-FN - relative to use of certain OHRV's on snowmobile trails and relative to authorization for snowmobiles and OHRVs registered in Vermont and Maine to operate in this state
- NHOHVA supports this bill as originally proposed but we do not support the recent amendments made to allow ME and VT riders to ride NH trails without registration in NH without a reciprocal agreement from those states.
- A public hearing was held on March 27, 2012 in Concord, NH. NHOHVA was there and testified before the New Hampshire legislature at this meeting on behalf of all OHV users in the state.
- An executive Session was held on April 11, 2012 where the Senate Amendments to this bill were discussed. NHOHVA was there for this Session where it was announced that this bill would be put on hold.
- HB1332 - relative to the law enforcement authority of fish and game officers
- As of February 22, 2012 the posture of this bill is that this bill ought to pass with a vote of 181 to 165
- HB1337 - relative to the enforcement of violations of fish and game laws and establishing a committee to study the disposition of wildlife confiscated by the fish and game department
- As of February 22, 2012, this bill has been deemed inexpedient to legislate and put on hold
- HB1442 - relative to motorcycle noise emissions regulation
- On March 7, 2012 this bill was referred to the House Transportation Committee
- A hearing was held on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at the Legislative Office Building, Room 306-308 to discuss this bill. NHOHVA was there to show our presence and concern for all legislation that effects our sport either directly or indirectly.
- NH1540 - relative to conservation easements on public land
- As of February 15, 2012, this bill has been put on hold
- SB0237 - relative to field purchases and transfers of funds for the state park system and the bureau of trails, and the use of gifts and donations to the division of parks and recreation
- This bill was referred to resources, recreation and development on February 22, 2102 and a public hearing was held on March 12, 2012 at the Legislative Office Building, Room 303 in Concord.
- This bill will be discussed at an Executive Legislative Session on April 17, 2012 at the Legislative Office Building, Room 305 in Concord,
- SB0250 - relative to operation of trail bikes and ATV's on state lands
- This bill was discussed at the public hearing on March 27, 2012 at the Legislative Office Building in Concord. NHOHVA was present in full support of this bill.
- This bill will be discussed on Tuesday, May 1 during a full committee work session of the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. NHOHVA will be there in full support of this bill.
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US Forestry Service Releases New Guide for OHV Use Then Removes it from Their Website | |
A new U.S. Forest Service (USFS) guide to help land managers maintain off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails contains derogatory OHV language.
The intent of the guidebook is laudable: to help OHV trail managers develop sustainable trails and protect the environment surrounding the trails.
But the document includes a variety of statements and innuendo that reflect an anti-OHV bias, and cites as a source for information an anti-OHV group. This type of government guide should be fact-based and neutral. It shouldn't include inflammatory, biased language and the recommendations of a group known to oppose OHVs.
The 318-page guide, "A Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Maintenance," was released in January in book form and was posted on the USFS website. But the document was quickly pulled off the website, apparently following protests from the OHV community about offensive language.
Among other things, the document:
- States "This framework was developed to help trail managers corral the OHV management dragon. The author hopes it has provided some insight into the nature of OHV trails, and some tools to help keep the beast at bay. Happy herding and happy trails!"
- States OHV use causes an "increase in frequency and intensity of weather events," and acknowledges gathering information from the Wildlands CPR, which is an anti-OHV group.
- Cites a Wildlands CPR proposal that no routes or trails should be allowed in "citizen or agency proposed wilderness... and other lands with wilderness character."
This management practice usurps congressional authority in the process to designate Wilderness, which is one of the strictest forms of public land management and bars OHVs. Only Congress can designate Wilderness. The USFS is trying to over-step its authority in an effort to diminish our sport.
Documents like this further establish the simple fact that opposition to OHV use exists. Our opponents are established in trusted Government positions and are trying to establish policies for all of us to live by and ride by!
Don't let this trend come to New Hampshire! Join a club and make sure your club is a part of NHOHVA!
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Threats Still Exist | |
Opposition to our sport exists and it will not go away if we simply ignore it. Efforts are being taken to end all recreational and competitive OHV use entirely. Please join NHOHVA and help us fight these efforts to end our sport. More members means more clout against our opponents, and your support will help NHOHVA fight for your rights - on the trail, at the track, and in the Capitol Building. |
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NHOHVA is Here Fighting for YOU! |  If you ride or register any OHV of any kind in NH, then NHOHVA is fighting for YOU. We represent the rights of all OHV users in this state and we are working to protect your right to ride! Please donate $10 today to help us keep up the fight! A portion of your $10 donation will go toward lobbying efforts to protect your rights with the NH state legislature. Visit our website and donate today!
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Upcoming Events |
May 1 - Legislative Office Building, Concord, NH
Room 305 10:30 AM
Full Committee Work session of the
Resources, recreation and Development
Committee to discuss Senate Bill 250
Join NHOHVA to send a message to the NH
Legislature that you care about promoting a
positive image of our sport
May 2 - NH Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH - 5-8PM
Kid's Safe 500
Join NHOHVA as we celebrate our
annual Kids Safe 500 event at the NH Motor
Speedway in Loudon, NH
May 23 - NH Trails - Opening Day!
June 8, 9 & 10 - NH Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
New England Classic Charity Trail ride
Join NHOHVA as we celebrate the 32nd annual
running of the New England Classic charity Trail
Ride Friday, June 8, 5:00 PM - check-in,
registration and tech inspection
Stay tuned to the NHOHVA newsletter for a MAJOR legislative announcement coming soon from NHOHVA!
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Thank you for being a part of NHOHVA. Jason Woodward, Esq.
President of NHOHVA New Hampshire Off-Highway Vehicle Association Ride as if everyone is watching - Talk as if everyone is listening |
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Charity Trail Ride presented by the Merrimack Valley Trail Riders, sponsored by Suzuki and benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 
Speedway in Loudon, NH. 