Protect Minnesota's Great Outdoors:
Hold Reckless Off-Highway Vehicle Riders Responsible
Download the great outdoors agenda (pdf, 26k)
Summary
Minnesota must protect its wetlands, waterways, and public lands from destruction by reckless drivers of off-highway vehicles (OHVs). Existing penalties are not a deterrent to some lawbreakers, and we need strong enforcement to ensure responsible recreational driving. We cannot allow a few reckless drivers to damage Minnesota's great outdoors.
Concern
Stiffer penalties are needed to protect Minnesota's great outdoors from off-highway vehicle riders who repeatedly violate laws and damage public and private lands. Some Off-Highway Vehicle riders have been ticketed by law enforcement officials, and then return the same day to cause more damage with their machines. Penalties do not deter reckless ATV, dirt-bike, motorcycle, and 4 x 4 truck riding on public and private lands. Half of Minnesota's wetlands have been lost to development, and it is time to protect the state's remaining fishing streams and hunting lands from reckless off-highway vehicle riders.
Case Study
On July 3, 2004 a Minneapolis DNR conservation officer working in Crow Wing State Forest issued 17 tickets during a 24 hour period to OHV violators, including three to a juvenile who remarked that he "didn't care about the laws" and that the officer should give the violator as many tickets as the officer "felt necessary." Approximately 3,000 warnings and tickets were issued to OHV drivers by Department of Natural Resources officers over a one-year period ending October 1, 2004.
Solution
- Increase fines for Off-highway vehicle violations.
- Make access to funds in damage account permanent.
- Prohibit the use of snorkels, mufflers, and extreme tires on public lands.
- Establish a 24-hour hotline for reporting violations.
- Repeal dedicated gas tax funds for 4 x 4 trucks.
- Seize vehicles from repeat offenders in cases of egregious destruction or threats to public safety.
- Place larger license plates on the front and back of Off-Highway Vehicles.
- Restrict 4 x 4 trucks in state forests to forest.
- Place moving violations on a driver's license/record.
Coalition Partners
American Lands Alliance — Midwest Office
Audubon Minnesota
Friends of the Boundary Waters
Izaak Walton League of America — Midwest Office
Jack Pine Coalition
League of Women Voters
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
For more information contact
Don Janes
(651) 429-0016
Brian Pasko
(612) 722-2757