Wisconsin Petition for OHV use.

[jakeWI]

Sorry if this doesn't belong here. I was going to put in land use forum but I figured anyone close to Wisconsin would come to the MWC section first.

Friends and family,

Over 6 years a go WOHVA was started by my 4 wheel drive group and others so we could have a voice in Madison. Today WOHVA has continued to be a leader in Madison for my right to recreate. I currently tow my jeep hundreds of miles to other states to play and you ask why? The answer is simply Wisconsin has yet to recognize there is any financial value in off highway recreation here in Wisconsin. Many Hunters should be told that thousands of miles of dirt roads were just recently voted restricted to motorized use. How do you drag a deer out of the woods without and ATV or truck?The fact is the state is missing out on thousands of dollars worth of revenue that could be gained as many use our woods. When a funding source is created it is designated solely for that purpose. The gas tax we use often goes for paved roads not trails you and i would love to use. The DNR and Forestry service would greatly appreciate a pool of money to help maintain the Forrest we all love to use. For me personally not being able to drive in Wisconsin's Forrest's is like living in Afghanistan and having to travel to another country to use a different beach!

Over the past several years, WOHVA (Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association) has been working to have a sticker program for 4-Wheel Drives & OHM’s introduced here in the Badger State. One of the reasons that extensive trail systems exist for ATV’s & snowmobiles is because these two groups have a source of funding via their respective registration programs.

WOHVA has started a petition in support of a Wisconsin 4WD/OHM Sticker Program. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wohva_stickers/
I am asking all of my friends and family to sign this petition. It will take less than two minutes i promise! I cannot win this battle alone and need many people to stand with me united as I ask Madison for this critical legislation. One word Team comes to mind. Together Everyone Achieves More is just one simple way to remember to get involved.

Thanks in advance,

Jim "Goldy" Goeldner

And email I received from Jim, something everyone should see and OF COURSE help with!!!

Zach571

 

[jakeWI]

look for the link in the thread as well there underlined.

 

[89eliminator]

signed it. doubt it will ever happen though...

 

[jakeWI]

yeah. well i figure it cant hurt and it only took 10 seconds of my time so its worth it.

 

[WB9YZU]

Should be in "LAND USE" Forum.

Aside from that...

Our Club, MCJAG, wrote a carefully worded letter back in 2009 regarding this concept. We supported it with 2 provisos. 1) That the money only used for the furtherance of OHV access, and 2) That this program does not remove ANY access.

3 Issues:
The DNR has a nasty tendancy to take money from one program an give it to another (anyone here old enough to remember the extra $2/Motorcycle OHV fee to create Off-Road possibilities for Motorcycles?).

The DNR, and the State of Wisconsin Natural Resources Board are extremely Pro- Environment. Current law states that you can drive your licensed vehicle on any road of any class as long as it is not closed (signed, bermed, gated, or on a MVUM indicating it is closed. How will this sticker program affect that rule? Will hunters now magically be able to drive their ATVs or SUVs places they couldn't before? The answer is that by implementing a sticker program, the DNR can turn around and close more class 3 and class 2 roads to vehicle traffic.

When the MVUM was being created by the NFS, this sticker program talk was going around. One of the items that I found of interest was that should a sticker program be implemented, the NFS was thinking of REQUIRING an OHV sticker to access the existing class 2 and 3 roads in the National Forest, including the Pipeline.

It should also be noted here, that the bill pushed by WOHVA (AB600) to increase SUV/OHV participation in the State Trails Council was NOT passed, and without representation on HOW those funds are used, they could be used to create better outhouses on bike trails.

So before you hop on the band wagon, think about what kind of precedent you are making. I'm not saying "Don't Sign", but understand the impact this will make on accessing Wisconsin back areas, and the affect on others who are not of our community - like hunters, gatherers, and families who enjoy our States natural areas.

Edit: A P.S. on the Gas tax that HIRISE mentions... IT also helps ATV trails, bicycle trails, and host of other NON-Motor vehicle uses.