http://responsiblerecreation.policy.net/relatives/17065.pdf

Governor's ATV Task Force schedules four public forums

Gov. John Baldacci's 15-member ATV Task Force released its initial recommendations Monday and announced it will hold four public forums this month in Presque Isle, Auburn, Bangor and Sanford to hear comments from the public on them.

The task force set four goals:

To protect landowners and their property from disturbances or damage caused by ATVs;
To improve law enforcement response to complaints about ATVs;
To develop a high-quality trail system that protects the environment and the rights of landowners, while offering ATV riders a chance to enjoy multi-day trips, sport-riding areas, and access to popular destinations;
To insure ATV riders are aware of ATV laws, ethics and safety issues.
To meet those goals, the task force has 46 recommendations, including:

Requiring landowners’ permission to operate an ATV. Permission is presumed only on authorized trails or riding areas;
Mandatory liability insurance for all ATVs;
Higher fines for ATV violations, including a mandatory $1,000 fine for failing to stop for a law enforcement officer;
Establishing a damage mitigation fund to repair environmental damage or to reimburse landowners for damage to crops, trees or orchards caused by ATV riders, when those riders cannot be identified or prosecuted;
Making ATV violations count as points against a driver’s license and an ATV OUI part of a driver’s motor vehicle record;
Making any violation of a criminal ATV law result in automatic impoundment of the ATV;
Authorize a mud season closure for ATV trails similar to the road posting process, so it can be done at the local level;
Encouraging increased ATV enforcement by creating a three-tier grant program, available by application to all law enforcement agencies in the State;
Encouraging membership in ATV clubs by offering a discount registration for ATV club members;
Distributing state ATV revenues in the same categories as snowmobile revenues: to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department for law enforcement and safety education; to the Conservation Department for trail grants and equipment; to Maine towns, in lieu of excise taxes.

The forums will be held:
Oct. 22, 6-8 p.m., Mathieu Auditorium, Schoodic Hall, Eastern Maine Community College, 354 Hogan Road, Bangor;
Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m., University of Maine Presque Isle, Multi-Purpose Room, Campus Center;
Oct. 28, 6-8 p.m., Kirk Hall, Room 103, Central Maine Community College, 1250 Turner Street, Auburn;
Oct . 30, 6-8 p.m., Memorial Gym, 678 Main Street, Sanford.

Written comments can be emailed to ATV.Taskforce@maine.gov or mailed by Nov. 15 to: Governor’s ATV Task Force, c/o Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41State House Station, Augusta ME 04333