Contact:
Ian Satter (602) 789-3223
Public Information Officer
Arizona Game and Fish Department
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release Oct. 27, 2006
Public input sought on Arizona's OHV management bill
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, on behalf of the Off-highway Vehicle Legislative Workgroup and Arizona Game and Fish Commission, is seeking input from the public regarding the "Copper Sticker" off-highway vehicle (OHV) user fee proposed draft legislation. A series of informational open houses will be held around the state in October and November, and written comment will be accepted until Nov. 26.
The Off-highway Vehicle Legislative Workgroup, a group comprised of OHV recreationists and outdoor user groups, land management agencies, county and local governments, and Game and Fish, have worked together to develop a "copper sticker" program to improve OHV management in Arizona. The draft legislation will enhance funding for OHV programs including the maintenance and development of OHV trails and routes, education and information programs, enhanced law enforcement resources and mitigation for damage to environmental, historical and cultural resources from OHV recreation.
Informational public meetings describing the OHV user-driven draft legislation highlights will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following dates:
Monday, Oct. 30 - Prescott, Prescott Valley Council Chambers 7501 E. Civic Circle
Thursday, Nov. 2 - Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department regional office 2878 E. White Mountain Boulevard
Friday, Nov. 3 - Mesa, City Of Mesa Utilities Department 640 North Mesa Drive
Monday, Nov. 6 - Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish Department regional office 9140 E. 28th Street
Tuesday, Nov. 7 - Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department regional office 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road
Wednesday, Nov. 8 - Flagstaff, Arizona Game and Fish Department regional office 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
Thursday, Nov. 16 - Safford, Eastern Arizona College Bonita Room 1014 N. College Avenue
The draft legislation can be downloaded and additional information can be obtained from the department's Web site at azgfd.gov/coppersticker.
Written comment can submitted until Nov. 26 at the meetings, through the Game and Fish Web site or by U.S. mail to OHV Comments, c/o Joe Sacco, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023-4399.
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The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.
I am going to try and make it to the Nov 3rd mtg. If not that one, then the Nov 15th one.
I've read through it once, and need to read through again, but it sounds pretty decent. I want to read through the appropriations of money again. I don't want to see other agencies use the money for their own projects not related to OHV.
I do like that it allows others to visit with their recreational toys and possibly not have to "register" it.
I would like to make sure though that our buggies and some of the RUV's aren't restricted to trails that full size 4x4's use. I'm thinking they should make a class 4. Somehow distinguish between class 3 and 4 a relationship of width and tire size. Maybe one class could be vehicles with a rim or tire size of "smaller" than something. _________________ I don't kill anything I don't get paid to.
250cc Sahara short frame
UNI and 130 jet
250cc Sahara long frame
Very interesting on the class designation. I don't think the green sticker program in California has this trail designation. You can basically go on any trail unless marked otherwise with your vehicle.
Definitely make sure other agencies or groups are not allowed to use the money from the program as happened in California. What I think would be nice is that if there is an OHV board controlling the program that no one group, OHV or environmental can rule.
This is what happened here, ended up the green sticker board was run by environmentalists who purposely spent the money closing down trails and buying land for non-OHV use.
I don't know that there will be trail size designations or not. That is just something they might be prepping for with the different class sizes. _________________ I don't kill anything I don't get paid to.
250cc Sahara short frame
UNI and 130 jet
250cc Sahara long frame
Ok, I went. Here's a quick overview of the meeting. The meeting was a lot more informative than the Bill.
First I want to say I'M ticked OFF!! What a joke. Our legislature has been stealing over half of our already established OHV fund. Something to the tune of either 4 or 7 million a year. I don't have the ppwk in front of me for which figure it is, but either or, good grief! So now they want to establish a group to tell the legislature don't take OUR MONEY. What a joke. Why can't we establish one anyways and keep OUR MONEY? Now they want to hit us with another fee and add another 4 million. By the way AZGFD was talking, they support this because it adds 6 new personnel to the field. These "6" new agents will not even be dedicated to OHV.
The next thing that makes me mad is that this Coppersticker will only apply to non MVD registered vehicles. So my plated, registered 4x4 Blazer will not be subject to this. Nor will the other gazillion jeepers and 4x4's out there, plated Rhino's, quads, dirt bikes etc. There would never be money coming from these folks for the same privilage we would have to buy. Oh that ticks ME OFF!
I think we need to first establish the same watchdog group they are proposing and protect the money already there first. Let's see what happens when we have all our resources available. I think this is a plan to tax us more and use the funds for other things. I think people are giving up and this will go to the legislature.
What can we do? I know what. We need to show up at the AZGFD commission meeting Dec. 8th for public comment and urge them to "KILL THE BILL"! I plan on going and reading from a pre-written "speech". Hopefully if enough people show up and speak, it will make the commission vote not to send this to the legislature. We can urge the commission to direct the "OHV Committee" to start over. This has worked before with a bill needing approval from a commission to send to the legislature.
Make no mistake, I believe this will only "tax" us more, and do nothing further for the OHV community. The legislature will pass it because it will generate 4 million more dollars for them to "Sweep" away.
I think they need to start from scratch and come up with a real plan. One that protects our money, addresses ALL OHV'ers, and protects the future of our OHV community. _________________ I don't kill anything I don't get paid to.
250cc Sahara short frame
UNI and 130 jet
250cc Sahara long frame
Welcome to our world here in California. Same thing, non-street legal vehicles pay the "Green Sticker" fee.
Isnt' there a group of OHV that can get together and sue the state for misapppropriated funds? We did it hear in California and they ended up dismissing the green sticker committee and appointing new members.
Fight Fight Fight!!! Get ahold of the blue ribbon coalition and see if they are willing to help.
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