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PAGE BB•STAR TRIBUNE*** METRO/STATE SUNDAY,JUNE 1.2003
<br /> ATV from 131
<br /> Officials are Al A GIAN({
<br /> Beteare themahtfeatures of the ATV law,which takes effect
<br /> undecided teda,
<br /> Y:The MinnesotaDepathnent of Natural Resources
<br /> the rDNR)must select and mark off-road vehicle trails in Min-
<br /> on the forests tresctastateforestsby Dec.31,2006.The DNR can receive
<br /> ✓ `two-y+ear extension if necessary.
<br /> > Aftertrails for driving are chosen in each state forest,
<br /> to studyfirst mother trails in that forest will be closed to off-road
<br /> irebicleuse.
<br /> Legislators want recre ' Eventually ATV dirt bike and off-road trucks must
<br /> ational trails for ATV riders,he be operated only on marked trails instate forests.
<br /> said,but they also want a sys )•,' Local governments maybanATVdriving inroad
<br /> tern with greater controls and diiftbes,afferhostingpubllc hearings about closures.
<br /> closer management. "T Feesfor athree year ATV registration rise from$18
<br /> We think the law is a rea ttr$23thisyearand to$30m 2005:..
<br /> sonable compromise and rr^ Fmmthosefees and off-road gasoline taxes,a
<br /> were going to learn a lot more ' $500;000 accountisestablshed to repair property dam
<br /> in the next couple of years agedbyillegalridmg,
<br /> about designing trails, main ,A' $1 million will be spent to help build a new off-road-
<br /> taining them, and enforcing vehlclepark near Virginia.
<br /> rules,"Moore said.If the DNR Y iCivl fines of$100,$200 and$500 are set for those
<br /> cannot meet the 2006 dead ' Caught operatingveliclesinunauthorized areas.
<br /> line, he said, the law allows
<br /> the department to get a two Tom Meersman
<br /> year extension.
<br /> DNR officials have not de
<br /> cided which state forests will
<br /> be reviewed first,Moore said. take away their family fun,"
<br /> Some forests may have many "t4 think the law is Ruud said."Well,their family.
<br /> miles of trails marked for rid- fun is illegal."
<br /> ing; others may have few or a reasonable Riders under 16 on public
<br /> none. compromise,and land have long been required
<br /> Ray Bohn,lobbyist for the , to drive small-engine ATVs
<br /> All-Terrain Vehicle Associa- we're going to learn under adult supervision,have
<br /> tion of Minnesota, said the a lot more in the a safety certificate and wear a
<br /> main goal of rider groups has helmet.Kids under 12 are not
<br /> been"to get more trails on the next couple of years permitted to drive on public
<br /> ground." In that respect, he about designing land.
<br /> said, the new law is an im- Young riders often drive
<br /> provement. "My hope is that trails,maintaining the vehicles in roadside ditch-
<br /> everyone just leaves this issue them,and es.The new law says counties
<br /> alone for a few years and lets or other local road authorities
<br /> the DNR get on with the job," enforcing rules„ can prohibit ditch driving,
<br /> Bohn said. which has caused erosion and
<br /> Yet part of DNR's job under —Brad Moore,assistant DNR damaged private driveways in
<br /> the law is to give riders and commissbner many areas.
<br /> non-riders a chance to corn- Larry Wannebo,a member
<br /> ment on trail decisions before of the lack Pine Coalition, a
<br /> they become final.That could to require driver certification group that seeks greater con-
<br /> lead to local disputes over programs and to make law- trol of off-road vehicles, said
<br /> trails. Bohn said he supports breakers pay even bigger the law would be better if road
<br /> such public input. fines. The law sets fines at ditches were closed statewide
<br /> "Otherwise we could be $100—and up to$500 for re- and local governments could
<br /> fighting these forest wars for peat offenders. open them to driving in areas
<br /> the next 10 years as local resi- Jeff Brown, executive di- where the ditches connect
<br /> dents bring their objections to rector of the Duluth-based with trails.
<br /> the Legislature,"he said. Minnesotans for Responsible Wannebo agreed with oth--='
<br /> Matt Norton,a lobbyist for Recreation, said the new law ers that the success of the new
<br /> the Minnesota Center for En- temporarily suspends envi- law will depend largely on the f
<br /> vironmental Advocacy, said ronmental review rules as DNA and its ability to move
<br /> the law's most important new trails are marked.Brown quickly to select appropriate.,
<br /> achievement is that ATV and said that all ATV trails should trails in state forests.
<br /> other off-road riders eventual- have environmental assess- "Three years ago legisla-
<br /> ly will be required to drive ments because the vehicles tors said ATVs were too hot to .
<br /> only on marked trails."Every- can damage the environment. handle and they weren't seri- -
<br /> thing else will be closed,and Rules on when to study a ous about dealing with regu-
<br /> that will have a noticeable trail's environmental effects lating them,” Wannebo said.
<br /> positive impact on the public will be put in place by 2005. Now,even in a year dotninat-
<br /> lands in this state," Norton Sen.Carrie Ruud,R-Breezy ed by budget concerns, law-
<br /> said. Point,cosponsor of the Senate makers have been forced to
<br /> But Norton said that mark- bill, said she wished the law move forward,he said."It's a'
<br /> ing trails will not solve the had included certification and tribute to how strongly Min- "
<br /> problem of irresponsible driv- training of riders, especially nesotans feel about the quail-
<br /> ers who insist on riding whey- adults who supervise young ty of their lakes and wetlands
<br /> ever they please. In that re- drivers. and forests." '
<br /> gard,he said,environmental- "People are using ATVs as
<br /> ists were disappointed that babysitters for their kids and Tom Meersman ism
<br /> legislators rejected proposals they tell me that restrictions meersmanesrarMbnne.mm.
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