HEY, Fatts would you do a little peice of home work? I found an amendment withen the (act 451 of 1994) statue #324.81122 section(C) A farmer,employe of a farmer,or famliy member of a farmer who is at least 16 years of age may operate an ORV on the extreme right side of a roadway or highway "Right of way"when its not practicable to operate off that roadway or highway right of way.such operation be limited to traveling to or from the farmers residence or work location or field during the course of farming operations. this artical is alot longer ,but goes on to say that the only thing you the"farmer would have to do is add a flag 8 feet above the roadway ,and be 100square inches of reflective matierial and ride(I assume) with helmet. please check in to this law, it may change the way you enforce orv law in your area.

 

yea I do have that and the enforcement in this area is definitaly not an issue with farm use as long as the quad is marked with farm triangle and in normal operation of farm use such as some type of equipment to veryify that the use is lagit. The thing that I would like to see changed is all those little stipulations in the amendments. There are a couple more and one is from 97, I do not have that here with me at work but when I get a chance I could post them. I would like to see those amendments go from farm use to work or recreational use with some stipulations. I am very interested in riding in Ohio. If you have any info on places that are open and close to me and what I have to do. I am not sure if Ohio has the ORV like we do or if there is any stipulations to out of state people but i would be interested to find out how it works there. Thanks for the info.

 

I forgot to add about when I am plowing snow with my atv. I usually plow my driveway and then start up the road and do some of my neighbors driveways. At this time there is nothing in writing about situations like that. Where I live we have a snow emergency clause for snowmobiles and that is a gray area because we have no definition of what constitutes a snow emergency other than the road commission saying "yep the roads are bad". The reason I state this because about 2 weeks ago there was snowmobiler here that was riding on the shoulder of the road. A uniformed officer tried to stop and he decided to run. The officer caught him and charged him with fleeing and eluding and operating a sled on the road. Fleeing and eluding yes, but operating on a road way no. we had alot of snow that day it was a bad storm. In my opinion it constituded a snow emergency. Well when I am plowing snow there is no difference in the laws eyes than that snowmobile. Thats why I would like to see it changed from just farm use to work or even recreation with stipulations. Also alot of what happens depends on the ordinance where we riside. The sleder had every rigth to get into deep poop but in the same token it also helped to bring up a good point because one day there might just be bad cops that dont care and say the heck with it and arrest someone for doing nothing wrong in a reasonable standard. I may be plowing snow one day and there might be a cop that doesnt like me for some reason and decides to make an issue out of it. Right now the way the law stands he has every right to infract me when I was just being a nice guy and helping the neighbors out because they could not get thier cars out of the driveway to go to work at hospitals, power company's, EMT's and doctors. That just a tip of the ice berg of what I look at....lol

 

yep!

 

fatts and yetti.....u guys hit it right on the nose. funny u mention the law yetti. it just so happens that i looked up the same laws the other day and read the same subsection you did under ORV usage in michigan. that farmer ORV law has plenty of room to be expanded, don't ya think?

short on time....gotta run.

 

Our representative to the state orv advisory board is Richard Rondeau. I would suggest that you take all of your questions to www.michiganatv.com/Trail Talk and post them under the "Ask the President!" topic.

If you would like to ask some of the previous questions in that section and under Association Suggestions or General Discussion (many months ago) that never got answered................make sure you don't get yourself 'banned' from the forum while in the process. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Good Luck!

John

 

Hi, blackballed,I frequint MATVA ,and have corisponded with Richard he is very knowlagable about the proscess at hand ,and he says to "you catch more flys with honey than viniger" ,so keep it clean when posting your feelings to the forums or state officials. they will notice the wacko's and dismiss them as pests.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Sorry, but I have no idea what you are talking about in reference to "keeping it clean"' or posting "your feelings" to forums or state officials...............can you explain? Furthermore, who are the 'wackos' or 'pests' you refer to and what could have ever brought brought 'THAT' up?

Also, do you have any insights as to why a website would suddenly, for all intents and purposes, 'die'; when compared to the time that all these initial questions started to be asked ? (or, for that matter, when even 'semi-regular' club meetings were last conducted?).

The question that got 'me' banned; was asking why one of our business members had the club's returned check for his business membership dues hanging up in the lobby of his hotel....................and, lest I forget, 'why' this member was told that if he wanted to 'advertise', that he maybe should just go somewhere else other than where 'selected' members were allowed to peddle their wares.

Thank you for clearing this up,

John

By the way, 'why' would you bring this all up again by quoting the club's policy on fly-catching ('bulls' use another method that I try to avoid) and start going on about wackos, pests and state officials?

I told these gentlemen to go ask our representative to make sure their concerns were brought up in the next orv board meeting. Is engaging in 'vague' name calling about unspecified issues, what you are trying to portray the club as all about? I don't believe that, as I know many fine members there that have no problem simply coming out and saying what's on their mind (while backing it up; which I don't see any evidence of above) and could care less about philosophical metaphors and 'flies'.

What's the next topic: Why the state is starting to take back control of some of these grant programs?

'Please', don't go there..............................

 

blackballed , I do not feel that you are taking this the right way. I did not want to endorse anyone or any thing exept orv/atv riding areas. I do not know of the issues you mentioned you have with any club. I only go to these sites to gather info on OUR sport. I am not a member of any club or group,and the things you speak of inrelation to wacko's was ment only to prevent people from shooting their mouth off ,and making someone who could help, turn their back on the people who need help. as a group we need to stick together and not squable amongst our selves.

 

yettiatcpg,

I appreciate you taking the time to respond, but I guess coming from one of the the more 'rural' areas of our great state, we have this problem with just wanting to hear things 'straight up'. I guess I am referring to your comment below:

[quote]
Originally posted by: yettiatcpg
.........." in relation to wacko's was ment only to prevent people from shooting their mouth off ,and making someone who could help, turn their back on the people who need help...................

I guess this ole farm boy just doesn't understand......."prevent people from shooting their mouth off" about WHAT?!

Furthermore, what question could be so terribly horrifying or distasteful regarding ATV ISSUES that it would cause "someone who volunteered help " to suddenly turn their back on" what they have already solicited funds from US to accomplish?

Again, from your comment: ".......... as a group, we need to stick together and not squable amongst ourselves."

We're just 'hayseed' farm folk out here; but do you folks outside Detroit figure if somebody is going to try and get you a riding area that's out your back door; you'll darn well make sure no 'other' questions are asked and describe such questions as unproductive 'group squabbling' that our rep. doesn't have time for?

What questions are on the 'approved' list that our representative is willing to entertain?

The fact remains that there has been NO talk allowed regarding the many problems our trail system faces in 'outstate' MI. and why this problem should be fixed FIRST, 'before' any new trails are considered.

If that subject would cause our representative to turn his back on the trails and the people who REALLY need help............. then so be it!

John

(From a town who's slogan is "Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo!"..............should we adopt a slogan for the club that goes something like: "Yes, there really 'are' riders outside Detroit"(and a whole Upper Peninsula, too!).