Dear Riders,
<br>>
<br>> You help is needed to keep our sport alive.
<br>>
<br>> NJ Assembly Bill #A2238 Sponsored by Assemblyman ERIC MUNOZ, will prohibit
<br>use of all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, off-road motorcycles, and other
<br>similar off-road vehicles in State parks and forests.
<br>>
<br>> Here is an easy way you can help our sport.
<br>>
<br>> Go to the AMA web site at this link,
<br>> http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/bills/?bill=155350
<br>>
<br>> enter your Zip code, and then click the button "compose your own letter".
<br>>
<br>> Type in a subject: for example - "Please oppose Bill A-2238"
<br>>
<br>> I will supply the information for the "optional text" box below.
<br>> Remember to fill out the information with your name, address, and email
<br>address on that web page.
<br>>
<br>> Your help is appreciated in helping to keep out sport alive.
<br>> Only a couple of minutes of your time is needed to accomplish this task.
<br>The NJORVP email list currently has 1975 addresses. This can be a big push
<br>for our cause.
<br>>
<br>> Thanks in advance!
<br>>
<br>> Here is the text to copy and paste into the "optional text" box.
<br>>
<br>>
<br>> Dear Sir or Madam:
<br>>
<br>> The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of a certain bill soon to
<br>be presented for legislation. The bill in question is Bill No. A-2238,
<br>sponsored by State Assemblyman Eric Munoz, M.D., (R), regarding the use of
<br>motorized vehicles within State Parks and Forests.
<br>>
<br>> As written, the bill will override current Department of Natural Resources
<br>(DNR) statutes and ultimately ban, as a matter of law, the use of any and
<br>all motorized vehicles within State Forest and Park boundaries.
<br>Additionally, the Bill seeks to prohibit the issuance of DEP permits
<br>allowing Park and Forest access for organized special events, such as
<br>endurance clock runs, dual sport rallies and similar motorized contests.
<br>>
<br>> These "special permits" are routinely awarded to organized enduro
<br>motorcycle clubs to facilitate annual "clock runs", which are timed
<br>endurance events that utilize a combination of paved/dirt roads and trials
<br>both on and off State property. The motorcycles ridden are required to be
<br>insured, registered, and must conform to all United States Forestry Service
<br>requirements. These "clock runs" represent the heritage of our clubs and
<br>date back 70 plus years.
<br>>
<br>> Ultimately, this bill seeks to eradicate Enduro Clubs and their thousands
<br>of members from state lands without any due process, representation or
<br>environmental impact study. The bill also attempts to usurp the authority
<br>given to park superintendents to govern the lands which they know best. As
<br>a member of a State-Registered, non-profit Enduro Club, I categorically
<br>oppose this bill and call on you to represent our viewpoint, which is as
<br>follows:
<br>>
<br>> This bill was born out of frustration over damage done to our State Land
<br>by illegal riding mistakenly blamed on our Enduro Clubs. The current plague
<br>of illegal riding in the State Parks and Forests is not related to Enduro
<br>Clubs and their "clock runs"/Dual Sport Rallies. In fact, the clubs are
<br>often called upon by State Rangers and private landowners to "police" the
<br>plethora of All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) and uninsured/non-registered
<br>vehicles (NRV's) illegally accessing their respective properties. It has
<br>always been the collective mandate of New Jersey's Enduro Clubs not to
<br>destroy the natural resource which we rely upon to provide ourselves and
<br>our families endless enjoyment. We consider ourselves serious sportsman who
<br>have taken the time and energy to join an organized club which affords legal
<br>riding in New Jersey. The problem is not with Enduro Clubs, the problem is
<br>a direct result of over-development squeezing available land for recreation
<br>and hyper-litigation cl!
<br>> osing access to traditional riding areas. The solution is to provide
<br>more areas for the ATV's and NRV's to legally operate such as The New
<br>Jersey Offroad Vehicle Park and the proposed Xtreme Habitat ATV Park.
<br>Banning the Enduro riders would be tantamount to inviting the ATV's and
<br>NRV's free reign of State Land, as the Rangers admittedly don't have the
<br>resources to stop them.
<br>>
<br>> This bill also ignores the economic benefit derived by collecting
<br>registration and permit fees by the state and the increased sales taxes
<br>collected by local merchants during our events (which can attract hundreds
<br>of people). Local merchants have come to expect and enjoy our annual
<br>visits, often offering sponsorship as a show of gratitude for the influx of
<br>revenues. We also act as a revenue stream for local volunteer ambulance and
<br>fire companies, which are required at all our events.
<br>>
<br>> We pride ourselves on our strong working relationships with the various
<br>Park and Forest Superintendents, and feel they, in turn, respect and
<br>appreciate our assistance. Many clubs sponsor forest clean-ups in
<br>conjunction with other local community groups, hauling trash and debris
<br>dumped there by non-motorcyclists. The Forest Service also relies upon
<br>several clubs to keep their firecuts clear, which has become extremely
<br>important recently as evidenced by the forest fires in Southern New Jersey .
<br>Without clear trails and firecuts, the firefighters would have a much more
<br>difficult time containing fires deep off the access roads.
<br>>
<br>> We urge you not to support this bill, and look clearly at the problem at
<br>hand. Passage of this bill will not achieve what it's sponsors are seeking.
<br>With the Enduro clubs gone and the Park and Forest Superintendents hands
<br>tied, illegal riding will reach epidemic proportions.
<br>>
<br>>
<br>> If you want to be removed from the list, you can unsubscribe your email
<br>address by going to the NJORVP Mailing List Web page here
<br>http://www.njorvp.org/menus/mainmenu.shtml
<br>
<br>