Here are some related comments:

I grew up in ND right on the MN border. I moved across the river three years ago in to MN since the city of Moorhead gave me some nice incentives to build a house there. Its the sorriest move I ever made.

I lost my ND residency and my inexpensive priveledges for much better hunting. Yes, ND DOES HAVE better hunting than MN. I live on the edge of town and ride my ATV out into the country. But I have to cross a paved county road behind my property to get there.

I have been pulled over now twice by the local fuzz. I do not hotrod or ride exhibition style. I was just crossing the road right behind my gated fence. The city limits are literally right behind my house. I got grief for driving on a highway without a DOT approved vehicle. All I did was cross the road. I did not have eye protection on at the time. My goggles were still pulled up on top of my helmet until I was ready to zoom in the country.

Last week a neighbor in the next cul-de-sac over from mine offered to give me two yards of rock for some landscaping. I used my ATV and national guard trailer to make numerous trips from his house to my house and into my back yard. The trip was less than a block each way but mostly on paved cul-de-sac roads. I was on the side of the road going less than 10 mph and told by the fuzz that I cannot do this.

Yet the other neighbors are repaving their own driveways and driving in the street using rented Bobcat tractors which are not DOT approved.

A month ago a friend and I were driving ATV's out in the county but mostly on gravel roads. No harm there. A county mountie car began moving towards us at an accelerated pace. Sick of crap in MN, we just kicked it down and hit a trail rather hard without stopping. Its not like he was close enough to identify us and catching us was NOT going to happen.

I am sick of living in a communist state. I have a concealed weapons permit in ND, yet MN would not allow me to acquire one this summer. The sheriff claimed that civilians in his mind should not be allowed this right and he would not sign for approval to apply for one. Of course the elections are going on this fall and the NRA just received a nice letter about this sheriff from me.

Luckily, my wife feels we should build a new house. I am definetly going back across the border into ND. ND is a great state to enjoy the outdoors whether it be hunting, fishing, ATVing, you name it. Can't wait to get back.

And don't get me started on Minnesota's hunting restrictions. The Land of 10,000 Lakes is the land of 10,000 restrictions.

Daryn

 

I agree that we have problems with law enforcement not knowing the laws on ATV riding. The DNR manual clearly states you are able to ride the side of any township road in Minnesota. You are able to cross any county road or state highway. Divided highways can only be crossed at intersections. These are the same rules that we use for snowmobiliing.

Now with that said, cities and townships may enact their own regulations and hopefully that is where ATVAM goes to work.

As far as the mowing of the ditches…… The only thing I can think of is in Sherburne County, the first mowing is generally in July and they only make a 8' or so from the shoulder. It is not mowed to the bottom of the ditch. Legally we cannot ride the inside slope of the ditch, only the bottom to the outside slope. The thinking that is where the birds are going to nest, (and that is a question) they would not do so on the inside slope where they are real close to the traffic. I have seen on divided highways where they tend to mow almost everything around intersections regardless of what time of year it is.

Now I want to know why they have to mow in the first place. Is it only to make the road look better??? How much money would be saved by not mowing? If it is for the snow drifting in the winter, cut in the fall. They seem to mow at least twice if not more!

 

Keep in mind though it's illegal to ride in the ditches in Central and southern Minnesota, and the Twin Cities metro area between April 1st and August 1st. I really don't know the reasoning behind that one either [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

Brian

 

Klier, I think most of us metro folks go north. Willow River, Fort Ripley, or north of Brainerd is where I prefer.

XCrider, not sure if the mowing is just for appearance, or maybe even for safety, visibility? It's gonna be an up-hill battle, kinda like the sledwars of a few years back. I still think the best thing that could happen, is that everyone work together. (bikes, quads, sleds, trucks)Together we can be an incredibly strong force.

Ken