The argument that all-terrain-vehicle trails will be a financial strain on Allenstown is a myth, said Rick Lacourse of Auburn, president of the New Hampshire ATV Club. Specifically, Lacourse said, contrary to claims made by town officials, the state will provide money to pay for local law enforcement to patrol ATV trails at Bear Brook State Park. Unfortunately, he said, that information is not being made available.

"There's a lot of information that needs to get out," Lacourse said. "The people are being misled. They're being misled by their selectmen and they're being misled by (the anti-ATV residents.)" What Lacourse said is missing from the public dialogue is that through a New Hampshire Fish and Game program, towns can get state money to patrol ATV trails.

Specifically, Lacourse said, Allenstown officials are ignoring the fact that they can apply to receive up to $42 an hour to cover the cost of patrolling the trails. That money would provide for an off-duty officer to work overtime, rather than using on-duty officers. Further, he said, more than 70 percent of money brought in by fines issued by the local department stays in the department's coffers.

"There's money to be made," he said.

"Yet, Allenstown is saying they don't have the money for patrolling. They're misleading people by saying so." Nevertheless, Allenstown Police Chief James McGonigle said the town has considered the state money, and still does not believe it will be enough.

Of the $42 an hour the department would receive, McGonigle said, $30 would go to the officer patrolling and $12 would go into an account. The money saved would eventually be used to purchase ATV machines for the officers to ride. The fund would be augmented by fine payments collected.

Unfortunately, McGonigle said, that money just isn't coming in fast enough.

"There is no grant money available to actually buy the machines. It's strictly for the enforcement," he said.

Currently, the Allenstown Police Department has two Bombardier ATVs on loan from the manufacturer. McGonigle said there is the possibility those machines could return to the manufacturer soon. At that point, the department would have to buy its own ATVs, for which there is no money.

McGonigle is not optimistic that the extra money from fines and grant money would be enough to cover the purchase of new machines. All-terrain vehicle riders are already allowed to use the same trails as snowmobilers when there is snowcover, so the department had already received grant money for 128 overtime hours. McGonigle said so far this year the department had used 98 hours and issued multiple fines, but they had only collected $972.

"At $8,000 a machine you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it would take you a number of years to be able to generate enough money in fine money to buy your own machines," he said. Other complaints In addition to the law enforcement grant money, Lacourse said he is unhappy with the characterization that ATVers would be a destructive force at Bear Brook.

Some Allenstown residents have complained that riders would be likely to go off the official trails trails and look for wetlands to drive through. Lacourse said this was untrue. "That's bull," he said. "Are we looking for wetlands? No. What we're looking for is any trails." Further, Lacourse said, his club would be willing to help maintain trails. "With our club in place, our duty would be to apply for grants for trail maintenance." Lacourse also said his club has 30 members who have been trained by state officials as "trail patrol." Although not deputized, he said these patrols could help deter inappropriate activity.

Lacourse said that currently horseback riders and mountain-bikers are allowed to use trails without paying a fee or providing for trail maintenance. He said he doesn't hold that against them, he just doesn't understand why ATVers aren't allowed in if they are willing to help out. "I think every group should have the right to use state and federal lands because we're the taxpayers," he said.