NHOHVA Newsletter

Working Hard So We Can All Ride!

Think Your Right to Ride is Safe? Think Again! Twelvth Edition

In This Issue:

Pittsburg ATV Trials Event

NHOHVA Legislative Update

On the NHOHVA Docket

NHOHVA is Fighting for YOU!

Our Sponsors

NHOHVA regognizes these businesses for their long-standing commitment to promoting a positive image of our sport.

Check it Out:

Visit Our Website

STAY UP TO DATE WITH LEGISLATIVE ISSUES EFFECTING OUR SPORT

Membership Application

Pittsburg Off-Road ATV Trials Event

July 21, 2012

The Great North Woods Riders ATV Club of Pittsburg, NH is pleased to announce the Pittsburg Off-Road ATV Trials to take place July 21 at the Great North Woods Riders trailhead in Pittsburg.

The club is looking to continue the momentum created last year by Brian Fisher's Keepin' it Real Tour taping an episode of the Brian Fisher's ATV

World program in Pittsburg recognizing the area as being a premier ATV destination. The off-road ATV trials will consist of an obstacle course for participants to navigate, contestants will be competing for the best and the 'cleanest' time.

Obstacles will vary from slalom, rocks, logs, mud to rock climb and more. Participants will be divided into classes depending on age and cc of ATV. Registration begins at 8 with trials starting after 10. Registration fee will apply to participate in obstacle course.

Full rules and regulations can be found on the club website: gnwatv.info. Also follow the club's FaceBook page for event updates. The Great North Woods Riders ATV Club, the latest club to support the NHOHVA mission, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the ATV community with safe and enjoyable trails.

Please join NHOHVA at this event as we welcome the Great North Woods Riders to the NHOHVA ranks and join in with our collective vision of promoting our sport in a positive light!

NHOHVA Legislative Update

Senate Bill 250

Signed Into Law

Victory for OHV Use in NH!

The NHOHVA Newsletter has been following this bill from the beginning, and now it is on it's been signed into law by the Governor of NH. Here is some background on SB 250. The amendment analysis language of the bill reads as follows:

"This bill adds specific exceptions to the evaluation criteria for the establishment of ATV and trail bike trails on state lands, and allows for OHRV operation on certain highways and trail crossings and connectors in Coos county."

The specific highways that have now been opened up for OHRV operation are Back Lake Road in Pittsburgh, from the town dump to Route 3; Route 3 in Pittsburgh from the intersection of Back Lake Road to Route 145; Route 145 in Pittsburgh and Clarksville from the intersection of Route 3 to Cedar Stream Road; Diamond Pond Road in Stewartstown from the town-owned section south to Charles Heath Road; Jericho Lake Road in Berlin from Route 110 to Jericho Mountain State Park; and the reduced speed section of Route 3 in North Stratford village as needed to reach services.

The signing of this bill into law represents a major victory for the OHV community. With the passing of this bill comes the expansion of allowed OHRV use in New Hampshire which is what NHOHVA is fighting for. This bill also serves the potential to assist with the New Hampshire North Country economy, and NHOHVA also strongly supports that as well.

Senate Bill 366

SB366 was originally introduced to allow a properly registered OHRV to replace the wheels with tracks, cleats or skis (or a combination thereof), that also fits the definition of a snowmobile and pay an additional registration fee to operate as a snowmobile.

NHOHVA thinks this is a great idea and we fully support this bill as it was originally introduced.

Then a Senate Amendment was added by Senator Gallos to allow Maine and Vermont riders to ride New Hampshire trails without a New Hampshire OHRV registration requirement. NHOHVA did not support this amendment and we testified to that fact before the Transportation committee in March of 2012.

Then in April of 2012 NHOHVA attended an Executive Session where it was determined that this bill be put on hold for further discussion in May.

Then May arrived and this bill was put on the docket for further discussion and NHOHVA was there to assist in explaining the somewhat arcane OHV implications of this bill to key NH legislators. Those newly educated legislators removed the Senate Amendment and passed the bill with a vote of 26-0. This allowed Senate Bill 366 to continue on to a Committee of Conference for concurrence. But on May 19, 2012, the Committee of Conference could not reach a concurrence when Senator Gallos re-introduced his amendment again. The Conference Committee issued a report on May 31, 2012 indicating that this bill has not been signed off on. This bill is currently slated to die.

The effect of this bill not passing will mean any riders who wish to replace the wheels of their ATV with tracks or skis will have to pay for dual registration to ride all year. They will have to register as an ATV for the summer and then obtain an additional full snowmobile registration for access to snowmobile trails in the winter.

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:

SB0250 - relative to operation of trail bikes and ATV's on state lands

This bill has been signed into law by the Governor of New Hampshire and is officially on the books!

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

As of May 29, 2012, after failing to reach a concurrence with the Committee of Conference, this bill is slated to die.

HB1332 - relative to providing broader law enforcement authority to fish and game officers
- This bill provides that conservation officers of the fish and game department may conduct a search based on probable cause rather than reasonable cause. The bill also provides that seized property shall be held at the state's expense.
- This bill allows fish and game officers more authority to conduct searches.
- As of May 16, 2012 the posture of this bill is that this bill ought to pass with new amendments.
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.
- As of April 18, 2012, this bill ought to pass.
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 was discussed at a Division I work session on May 8, 2012. NHOHVA was there to show our support for our Administrative partners.
As of May 15, 2012, this bill ought to pass.

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!

www.nhohva.org

Upcoming Events

This Weekend!

June 8, 9 & 10 - NH Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

Suzuki presents the New England

Classic Charity Trail ride

benefitting the

Cystic Fibrosis

Foundation

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

*Street Legal machine required for participation

in the main Trail Ride*

June 23 - North Stratford, NH

NH ATV Club & NC ATV Club present the

Club Ride Annual Old Home Day Parade

The Club will start picking up riders at Burns

Truck Stop at 9am Saturday and pick up riders

along the ride to the parade location in Straford

Bog. Parade at 11am and lunch provided after

the parade. Andy will be staying at Trailside

Lodge so all NH ATV Club members contact me

so we can set up some rides All lodging places

in Stradford are on the trail system.

July 13, 14 and 15 - Warren Old Home Days

Warren, NH

The Mount Moosilauke ATV Club hosts this

outrageously fun annual event

Join NHOHVA and join the celebration!

July 14 - Mt Moosilauke Poker Run

Warren, NH

poker run

July 21 Pittsburg Off-Road ATV Trials

Pittsburg, NH

The Great North Woods Riders present

an Off-Road ATV Trials event like no other!

Registration begins at 8:00 AM

July 28 & 29 - Rocky Mountain Weekend

Alton, NH

Merrimack Valley Trial Riders present

The Rocky Mountain Weekend mvtr1

Saturday and Sunday,

July 28 and 29

Join NHOHVA and MVTR

for the best

weekend of family racing in

NH!

Looking for something to do? Find out more upcoming events and plan your summer with our interactive calendar on our website. Check it out today!

Stay tuned to the NHOHVA newsletter for a MAJOR legislative announcement coming soon from NHOHVA!

ama motocross The first three rounds of the 2012 Outdoor National Series are the books and Ryan Dungey has taken the points lead in the 450 class with 136 points after Thunder Valley in Colorado. In the 250 class, Blake Bagget is 16 points ahead of Justin Barcia with 139 points. Last weekend at Thunder Valley James Stewart had a crash in the first moto that had him out for the day, while Dungey swept both motos for the points lead. Barcia won the lites class. This weekend the action continues as we head toward Mount Morris Pennsylvania for High Point.

Meanwhile, the ATV Motocross National Championship will head for High Point the following weekend - June 16 and 17. After completing round five at Balance MX in Oakland, Kentucky, Cody Gibson continues to dominate the pro-Am ranks.

We are NHOHVA

We are a statewide system which addresses the issues and opportunities facing people concerned with creating a positive future for trail motorcycles, ATV and off-highway vehicle recreation.

Our mission is to create an ongoing communications forum through which off-highway recreational vehicle (OHRV) enthusiasts and their organizations and supporters can share information and experience, participate in educational opportunities, and become partners in creating a positive image of the sport. We value trail motorcycle, ATV and OHRV recreation as a social experience that strengthens family relationships as kids and adults alike share their enthusiasm for the sport.

We value the opportunity for outdoor experiences respecting the many unique environments. We value trail motorcycle, ATV and OHRV recreation as a social opportunity for all types of people to participate in a healthy and enjoyable activity. We value the variety of opportunities and challenges ATV, trail Motorcycle and OHRV recreation provides which allow escape from daily pressures.

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

Are you in an OHV Club? Is your club on this list? It should be!

NHOHVA Member Clubs:

Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club

Androscoggin Valley ATV Club

Blurred Vision ATV Club

Merrimack Valley Trail Riders

Mount Moosilauke ATV Club

New Durham Valley ATV Club

NH ATV Club

Seacoast Trail Riders

Sullivan County ATV Club

White Mountain ATV Club

and now NHOHVA welcomes:

Great North Woods Riders

Have your club join NHOHVA today and show your commitment to promoting a positive image of our sport!