On Track with ATVs

Often when a government study commission looks into a difficult issue, its recommendations are quickly dismissed as impractical or too costly. Neither should apply to the suggestions of the governor’s ATV Task Force. The group came up with practical solutions, and though some of them will cost money, investing in more trails now, for example, will avoid future costs and legal battles long term.

The 15-member task force is putting the final touches on its report to the governor, due Jan. 1. Given public reaction to its draft report, released in October, few changes need to be made to that document, which contained 46 recommendations, ranging from the minor – outlawing tires with treads deeper than one inch – to the major – requiring liability insurance and changing the distribution of registration fees.

Conan Furber of Kingsbury Plantation summed up the sentiments of the hundreds who commented on the draft report. “Give me a little time and I’ll find some fault, but I pretty much agree with it,” said the ATV club official, elected municipal officer and landowner.

Such sentiments, coupled with a commitment to implement the task force’s recommendations, could go a long way toward curbing ATV problems.

Retail sales of ATVs in Maine have increased 574 percent in the past decade with sales of the four-wheel vehicles outpacing those of snowmobiles at some dealerships. However, trail development has not kept pace with the explosion in ATV use. There are approximately 2,200 miles of ATV trails in Maine, compared with 13,000 for snowmobiles. This lack of trails has pushed ATV use onto private property and, increasingly, onto local roads, a potentially fatal development.

The Department of Conservation’s off-road vehicle division has estimated that Maine needs 7,500 miles of ATV trails and at least 157 local clubs to maintain 45 miles each. There are currently 92 ATV clubs in Maine, 62 of which belong to ATV Maine, a statewide advocacy group. One recommendation of the task force is to encourage club membership by offering discount registration to members, as New Hampshire has done with snowmobile clubs. Since clubs often police their members, membership also leads to more responsible riding.

Dan Mitchell, the president of ATV Maine, has calculated that $634,000 would solve most of the current problems. That’s the amount of money that was raised by the state by increasing ATV registration fees from $12 to $33 earlier this year. ATV Maine supported the increase on the premise that the money would go toward trail building and stepped-up enforcement of existing rules. Instead, the money went to balance the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife budget. The $33 registration fee, the same as for snowmobiles, might be divvied up the same as the snowmobile tab. Of their fee, $16.50 is funneled through the Department of Conservation and ultimately goes back to local clubs for trails and equipment. With ATVs, only $9.40 is dedicated to this purpose.

As has been pointed out many times, there will always be “rogue” riders who disobey laws and trespass on posted private land. But, ATV clubs have shown that they want to be responsible and help solve the problem. It is time for the state to step in and offer the support, mainly financial, that is necessary to help the clubs succeed.