Several pieces of legislation were filed in Concord this year to try to create positive solutions to the growing ATV problem in New Hampshire. Most of the bills have been killed in sub-committee in the House Resources Recreation & Development Committee.

One important bill remains under consideration,HB1686,
which allocates more of the registration fees collected from both instate and out of state registration of ATVs and OHRVs to enforcement of the laws governing use of these vehicles in New Hampshire. Additional money would be given to the Fish and Game officers who are the officials tasked with controlling illegal use of these vehicles.

We have been receiving reports of increased illegal activity off-trail at the edges of Pisgah Park and that the officers manning the stings set-up by Fish and Game in Pisgah last year did not have adequate equipment to apprehend the violators. Illegal use of these vehicles has been even worse in other parts of the state including interference with logging operations, the destruction of gates on private land, an incident of hit and run of a town police officer and the destruction of crops in farmers fields.

Please call or speak with your Representatives and ask them to contact members of the Resources Recreation & Development Committee to persuade them that this bill is an important tool to protect our parks and other public and private land in our state as well as to maintain the safety of everyone who uses these lands.

Note:The bill also increases out of state fees a modest amount. In addition, considering that New Hampshire is surrounded by states, like Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and to a certain extent Vermont, that do not allow out of state riders at all this is not too much to ask.

Thank you,
Dan Carr