Where are we SB 101?

[Dune Dude]

rmz450#969,

I think you are starting to see that all of your concerns are being addressed in SB101 by Class I and Class III riders.  Class III has had a minimum age of 7 since the early 90's.  I believe Oregon is one of just a handful of States that set a minimum age for MC's.  We looked at amending SB 101 to get rid of the Class III minimum age but, it would not have gone through.  Class I does not have a minimum age.  Originally, Parks set it at 7 to be in line with Class III and to appease the "Safety" people.  The Senators would have touted this as a win for safety by keeping small children off ATV's.  Except, that through our research, this age group is not the problem.  We changed SB 101 back to no minimum age and inserted Rider Fit.  This keeps kids on ATV's that they fit and not by age minimums or age to cc nonsense.  Minimum age is impossible for Law Enforcement to do anything about.  How do you tell a 7 year old?  They don't carry ID"S and the parents will just in struck them to lie about their age.  Law Enforcement can identify Rider Fit.  Plus, SB 101 will hold parents responsible for letting their children ride ATV's that are too big or too small for them.
As Quad daddy said Ed, at the ORMA, developed a set of Rider Fit Guidelines for Class III riders that addresses the issue of touching the ground while sitting on the bike.  We are going to use the guidelines along with the precedent from Class I being no minimum age and rider fit to get rid of the age 7 minimum for Class III.  We just have to wait for the next legislative session. 
Again, we are all on the same side.  We have included many people into the amendments from all areas of OHVing.  Yes, we are putting regulations on ourselves.  But when you look at it they are not anything different than we all do right know. 
1. Supervise our children.
2. Let them ride vehicles that fit them and their abilities.
3. Provide training for all that enter the sport.

We want to make the rules on how we and others should ride safely together as families.  Not everyone that buys a bike or quad has the same common sense as members of this club or your Dirt Bike Club.  We do know through our own experiences that with proper fit, training and supervision accidents will be reduced.  Plus, a whole new generation of children will be taught the right way to ride for fun, safety and environmental respect, that will only make a larger, more educated voice to protect this sport in the future.

To do nothing is to let the "Hater" groups tell us who can ride, where we can ride or if anyone will be able to ride again.  In MN's CD training the first few pages talk about how many OHV riders are in the State and how many people total are in the State.  It then goes on to explain that the total population of non-riders tells the small group of OHV riders what they can and can't do.  I'd rather we do it ourselves.

[Lindylee]

Okay rmz.... I think you are missing something very key in all of this....parents are not being held accountable - the entire group is.  If you pay close attention to the media, it is rare to ever have mention about a parents lack of supervision or poor judgement.  Rather, the dealer, manufacturer, and the ATV that springs to life and crushes small children get the blame... Oregon isn't the first state facing huge restrictions...many states have fought and lost.  It is our sport at risk.  It isn't only safety advocates forcing legislation - it is environmental groups knocking at the back door.  How is SB101 taking away any of your rights??  Your responsibility lies in protecting your child by providing supervision - it isn't a right.  Providing education and increasing awareness is responsible too - it doesn't prevent you from participation.  And rider-fit isn't designed to prevent children from riding an ATV - it just insures that they can safely operate it.  The other thing you don't seem to understand is nothing has been set in concrete.  We are a part of this team, just as you can be, in designing what type of training program we will have and how it will be administered.  You also spend a lot of time on Rider fit with motorcycles...Funny thing is - it is new and only a few people have reviewed the working draft.  How could you possibly know then what it is you don't like?  The AMA, yes the National guys, have been working with us from the get-go and would love for Oregon to be a rider-fit state for Motorcycles.  The other thing you have made clear in your post is your club is ignoring current law.  You have riders as young as four racing.  Under current law they can't legally ride until age seven.  Our goal is to have rider fit for MC with NO minimum age.  It amazes me how concerned you are about new laws when your group fails to follow the current law.  We have spent months working around the clock researching, attending hearings, writing legislation, calling, writing, and essentially working our rears off for all OHVers - including you.  We appreciate your input, in fact it keeps the old fire burning - but please do your homework before you bring controversy to an issue you clearly know so little about.  There are members in this group that have sacrificed the most precious and unrecoverable time away from their families fighting SB49 for yours.  These same people continue to work hard in protecting this sport....We welcome your passion and it sounds as if you are all fired up - we would  appreciate more help.  Please read previous posts and if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me at minten@gotsky.com.  I would be more than happy to get you up to speed so you understand the gravity of the bigger picture.  Thank you, Lindy

[Sandflicker]

The problem is not "stupid little kid" its that kids parents. why didn't you follow that kid back to his parents and have it out with them? With racing we have age limits and skill levels. The conflict with rider fit is at the starting gate we have many kids that have to use blocks to reach the ground because of the skill level they are at. I can see where rider fit could benefit the quads as anyone at any ability can ride one as there is not much skill required ."That's not intended as a slam".  So infact we are comparing apples to oranges. It infact is not a one size fits all problem . I agree somthing needs to be done but but we cannot treat all ohv's the same. From the handful of times I have rode at the coast the bigger problem is the drinking and drunk riding not kids. Do you really think that legislating common sense is going to keep these parents from letting these kids do whatever they want? We elect these people to protect our rights and way of life not take it away. Just last weekend at the May day poker run at John's Peak the youngest participant was 4 . Should she have been banned from riding? At our race track we have a peewee class that is 4-6 on 50cc machines these kids should have just the same right to race as anyone else. I think we should lead by example not by fear of everyting being taken . I hear everyone bitching about all the closures do to sound, but how many people are compliant?I know people who ride the coast all the time and go from dune to dune running from the sound guy. It is a harder road to take but but we have lost too much already and if we let them take anymore it just makes it easier for them the next time.

As most have said it is already law you have to be 7 to ride a mc.

I certainly am glad to hear your input, but am wondering why now.  For months we've been asking everybody we come across for their opinion now after the ball is gaining speed you come to the table.  Where have you been.?

[Towman 1]

As it stands now, I would be willing to bet that I could take my camera out and show you every day where there is parents letting there kids ride quads that is to big for them. I don't care who you are, this has to stop. For your safety and mine.  A 50 pound 9 year old has no business on a Banshee no matter what the skill level they are.

I don't make it a habit going to peoples camps and getting into arguments. I tried that a couple of times and ended up almost going to blows after they told me to mind my own business.

[rmz450#969]

 The way the laws are now is 7 yes but that is only on public lands not private lands with public access right? Rider fit is a great idea for quads I agree. Hold the parents accountable yes . How many kids do you see riding a dirtbike that is too big? Where have I been . Well first off with sb49 I went out and did the petitions and got around 453 riders to sign it. When I seen that bill was dead and all they did was write sb101 I got in contact with the ACLU to learn what we can do to fight back, because I feel they have taken too much as it is. I also have done another petition to stop it . Like it or not the best way to fight back is lawsuits to stop it. I know you are worried about the dunes getting shut down due to injury but the noise all your aftermarket pipes are making has already set that ship to sea , unless you can start changing the attitude of the people using them it is getting closed. I am trying to lead by example over here my "race bike" is down to 92db and still runs with bikes that are over 101db. What this has done is got 6 of the riders I ride with to do the same. You keep saying that this bill is rider fit only, that they are taking in to account racing , and that everything will be as you want it. Have you seen the amended draft ? (the one the senate passed) There is still the age restriction , nothing about racing , no set rules of what exactly rider fit means , any land with public access along with other parts I take issue with. My biggest issue is the private land with public access. I can see public lands as I would not let my kid ride at the coast or the woods until they are ten or so as it is not a controlled enviorment , but a track where everyone is the same size and going the same direction that is totally different. I know you  say we will pass it now and amend it later that just does not happen. Here is my email sharalife@charter.net if you would like to send me yours I give you my phone #  I would like to talk to you about it.

[Dune Dude]

Here is support for SB 101 from the SVIA.

Posted on: May 08, 2007, 12:27:33 PMrmz450#969,

Here is current law for operation of Class III on Public Lands.
Must be at least 7 and
have a driver's license or ATV operator permit (obtained by successfully completing an ATV safety education course or
be accompanied by someone 18 years old or older who meets the above requirements.
Riders 7 - 11 must have both an ATV operator permit and be accompanied by someone at least 18 years old that has a valid drivers license or an ATV operator permit.

SB 101
Class III requirements for Public Lands (includes land purchased with monies from the OHV fund)
STILL DOES NOT AFFECT PRIVATE LANDS OR PRIVATE LAND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  THIS WAS CHANGED FROM ORIGINAL SB 101 WHICH HAD PREMISES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Must be at least 7 and
have an ATV operator permit.  (All must have the permit, no exception for just having a drivers license)
Riders 7-15 must have both an ATV operator permit and be accompanied by someone at least 18 years old that has an ATV operator permit.  (Supervision increased from 11 to 15 in SB 101)
THERE IS NO RIDER FIT FOR CLASS III RIDERS IN SB 101.  CLASS III IS STUCK WITH THE SAME MINIMUM AGE OF 7.
How to get rid of the age minimum for Class III?
You must develop a rider fit guideline.  This will insure that kids will not operate bikes they do not fit.  Then we can argue that with rider fit for Class III there does not need to be a minimum age of 7 to operate.  We also, have to do research to show that this age group is not having accidents and death from riding bikes with adult supervision that are properly sized.  Parks will work with all of the Class III riders to get a fit guidelines that makes sense for you as riders of MC's.  ORMA, MRA, and AMA are all on board for this.
SB 101 was not the place to change the minimum age for Class III that is already current law.  Much more work has to be done to get it ready to attack at the next legislative session. 
Again, we as Class I operators have committed to help in this cause.  We need to stay together or we risk losing everything.   Class I is 2 to 3 times the size of Class III riders.  We have a very powerful voice and are willing to work with Class III to get you riders what is right and helps develop your sport to grow. 

[Towman 1]

As far as the noise level on the dunes, I agree with you around the Florence area where the noise affects the people that build houses on the dunes, also around the south end of Horsefall dunes. But here in Winchester Bay the noise level isn't a problem now that they closed that section below the lighthouse. We will alwayse have a problem with a couple of the people living up on Sunset Blvd. They just moved here from San Francisco and want piece and quiet. Well so be it.  My bike is checked in at about 96 db. The only way to tell if it is legal or not is with a meter.

As far as getting the ACLU involved in this is totally wrong. We all know what they stand for.  There you will have some hotshot lawyer from Florida sueing the people out here for something that they don't know sh3t about.  Sorry, I don't have any use fot those people.

We still need this bill.

[Dune Dude]

rmz450#969,

For all the info on SB 101 please contact Lindy at 503-394-2180.

[Quad daddy]

FYI,

SB 101A
Public Hearing and Possible Work Session
House Transportation Committee
Monday May 14
3 PM in HR 357
(The old Capital Building in Salem on the 3rd floor I believe).
 
 
 
Please pass this on to anyone that is interested.

Mike Law
ATV Program Representative-Westside
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Honeyman State Park
Office (541) 997-3851
Cell (541) 991-1989
Fax (541) 997-4425

[Sandflicker]

These groups claim to have a following of 50 million + people.  I'm trying to research this - the last population numbers I find for the United States is about 300 million - so using their numbers they claim 17% of the population.  This is amazing to me I'll let you know what I find.