xFallen
02-08-2007, 06:21 AM
Who else has read this (http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=%2Flegtext%2F48leg%2F1r%2 Fproposed%2Fh%2E2443jw%2Edoc%2Ehtm) lately?
There's a lot in there, but here's a few of interest to people with largely off-road vehicles. As is typical, much of the language in the document is ambiguous.
C. A person shall not drive an off-highway vehicle on roads, trails, routes or areas closed by a federal agency, this state, a county or a municipality or on roads, trails, routes or areas unless they are opened by a federal agency, this state, a county or a municipality.
That means closed unless opened. If they don't know about it, it is illegal. This is in contradiction to federal laws established for mining access years ago. I doubt that will matter any more, but it is a contradiction.
4. A spark arrestor device that is approved by the United States department of agriculture and that is in constant operation except if operating on a closed course.
Maybe a good thing, but who here has one? Where are you going to get one? They are made for large engines and available, but not a common item by any means. Ask any 4 wheel drive shop in the country for one and see what answer you get.
I know much of this matters not to the vast majority that don't do much wheeling other than on double track and the odd excursion on open washes, but it will impact that also.
I would like to see concrete evidence that OHV is a significant contributor to dust. I will bet that assertion cannot be substantiated. Certainly OHV produces dust and efforts to minimize it should be investigated, but let's target the major contributors. Construction, farming, mining and landscaping, however, are another story. Plus the fact that we live in a desert. Years ago I recall California regulating or attempting to do that lawn mowers. Studies at the time showed no significant contribution to air quality even with all the lawn mowers. Just another example of why stupid people should not be in power or contibuting to legislation.
All those letters sent over the past months weren't heard, obviously. I cannot support this legislation if it leaves things closed unless posted open. As is typical, there is no description of a mechanism for opening new trails. They do not describe mechanisms for closing or for maintaining old ones. I won't support this effort without such wording in place. We stand to lose way too much. Just look at what has happened in other states for examples. I suspect this will pass and we'll be stuck with it.
Barry
There's a lot in there, but here's a few of interest to people with largely off-road vehicles. As is typical, much of the language in the document is ambiguous.
C. A person shall not drive an off-highway vehicle on roads, trails, routes or areas closed by a federal agency, this state, a county or a municipality or on roads, trails, routes or areas unless they are opened by a federal agency, this state, a county or a municipality.
That means closed unless opened. If they don't know about it, it is illegal. This is in contradiction to federal laws established for mining access years ago. I doubt that will matter any more, but it is a contradiction.
4. A spark arrestor device that is approved by the United States department of agriculture and that is in constant operation except if operating on a closed course.
Maybe a good thing, but who here has one? Where are you going to get one? They are made for large engines and available, but not a common item by any means. Ask any 4 wheel drive shop in the country for one and see what answer you get.
I know much of this matters not to the vast majority that don't do much wheeling other than on double track and the odd excursion on open washes, but it will impact that also.
I would like to see concrete evidence that OHV is a significant contributor to dust. I will bet that assertion cannot be substantiated. Certainly OHV produces dust and efforts to minimize it should be investigated, but let's target the major contributors. Construction, farming, mining and landscaping, however, are another story. Plus the fact that we live in a desert. Years ago I recall California regulating or attempting to do that lawn mowers. Studies at the time showed no significant contribution to air quality even with all the lawn mowers. Just another example of why stupid people should not be in power or contibuting to legislation.
All those letters sent over the past months weren't heard, obviously. I cannot support this legislation if it leaves things closed unless posted open. As is typical, there is no description of a mechanism for opening new trails. They do not describe mechanisms for closing or for maintaining old ones. I won't support this effort without such wording in place. We stand to lose way too much. Just look at what has happened in other states for examples. I suspect this will pass and we'll be stuck with it.
Barry