Washington- your fellow enthusiast need you

[the_privateer]

I copied this from allthingsmoto.com, just trying to get the word out, thank you for reading



The following email was passed on to me via a group I belong to, known as SAWS (Snowmobile Alliance of Western States) which is involved in informing snowmobilers about legislation and proposals that affect how and where we ride; similar to the BRC, but a free membership. It is reported to be legit, and if it is then what a tragedy! If Mr. Kline actually has the gumption to make such comments I'm apalled, and WILL be writing his office a letter stating exactly how I feel on the matter. This is in regards to WA bill SB5544, abating environmental noise. I'm just helping to ensure that Mr. Kline's wish that all motorized recreationists receive this correspondence. If you live in WA or recreate on anything that has a motor in WA, I encourage you to send a response to Mr. Kline. His email is as follows:

Dear Mr. (Name removed),



I signed on because I have been annoyed, endangered, and angered one too many times by people riding motorized dirt-bikes and other off-road vehicles that have no damn business anywhere. To me, this bill is narrow--it doesn't include those "personal watercraft," seemingly jet-powered little missiles whose only apparent purpose is to risk death and dismemberment for boaters and swimmers, for the amusement of spoiled drunk teenagers.



Yes, I am sure there is the occasional responsible person who rides one of these machines on land or water. And yes, like every human being I have been pleasantly surprized to find my stereotypes broken. But why, why, why, do folks insist on motorized "sports"? Those two words are an oxymoron. There is nothing sporting--athletic, physically demanding--about riding any machine anywhere. And it's a damned annoyance to folks who see the outdoors as a place to go for quiet and solitude and self-exploration. I would be happy to ban the use of the internal combustion engine off-road, by anyone without a handicapped sticker, subject to a stiff fine. Maybe we could call this an anti-obesity measure.



Please circulate this to all motorized sports enthusiasts, so they can remember never to vote for me.



Adam Kline

Here are some links with info on SB5544:

SB 5544 - 2007-08




And here is a link to Senator Kline's web site:

SDC - Senator Adam Kline

His email is kline_ad@leg.wa.gov, I think every dirt bike or snowmobile enthusiast in WA state needs to invite him to come for a ride with us to see just how physically undemanding motorized sports are! Please feel free to pass this along to friends or anyone else who may be interested.

[Clint]

Uhh, why is this loudmouth idiot's rantings worth my time? Is there a genuine threat to any sport?

The Seattle Times: Postman on Politics

[omegajim]

It usually starts with something small like "for the good of public."

It always starts with little laws here, little laws there and then the do gooders build upon what they have when nobody squawks. We have seen the beginning of this in Wisconsin, but the technology is partly to blame.

Back in the old days (70's) sleds couldn't go very fast, very long. Newer sleds came along and young men thought they were invincible. The young bucks were wrong. Well, long story short, we now have night-time speed limits of 55 mph. While the law is patrolling for speeders (on the sled trails, which get a fraction of the traffic the roads get) they will check you for drinking too.

There's no end to doing good. Save the public from themselves. Blah, blah, blah.

You should have left the name on that letter, and an e-mail address

[Rickster]

Clint, look at what's happening right here in your own state. They already closed all the ditch trails in Washington County, (some of Wash County is very rural), and there is an environmental group that has the Minnesota DNR in court right now, trying to shut down "all" state land to off road motorized use. That case has been tied up in the courts for about 3 years now, creating a situation where the DNR can't open up any new trails until it's settled.

I know off road riding isn't your thing, but once you get a group like this dictating the rules, there's no end to where it stops. I've even heard rumors of a group that wants to eliminate all gas motors from Minnesota lakes. If there is such a group, they don't seem to have much of a following, but it is an example of how extreme some people can be.

At the very least, it's costing the tax payers a lot of money having to go back and fight the same battle, over, and over again, just worded a different way.

[LCA_koolaid37]

Originally Posted by omegajim

It usually starts with something small like "for the good of public."

It always starts with little laws here, little laws there and then the do gooders build upon what they have when nobody squawks.

This could not be any more true! Freedom never dies a sudden death, rather a prolonged, slowly asphyxiating demise.

[omegajim]

This could not be any more true! Freedom never dies a sudden death, rather a prolonged, slowly asphyxiating demise.

Some of us less sophisticated types say suffocating, because we can never spell asphyxiation twice the same way.

and to another post

Rickster

Clint, look at what's happening right here in your own state. They already closed all the ditch trails in Washington County,

Who, where, what? I live in Washington County (WI) did I miss sumpin'

[92Notch]

in soviet russia you can ride atv's in the mall.

[Apertureguy]

So...he doesn't think there's a sport if there's a motor involved?

What a strange and narrow little mind. So, if he's never heard of it...or if he doesn't think it's a good idea...it shouldn't exist?

What's he smoking?


....and can I get some?

[Clint]

Rick, I'm not against the ditch ban. With the proliferation of quads around here, the landscape was getting positively mangled.

I am a fan of off-road, and I look forward eagerly to when I can take my little boy out on dirtbikes, but it won't be ripping around on public right-of-ways. I'll look for designated areas and tracks, and we'll go out west now and then.

[Trapper]

I am a fan of off-road, and I look forward eagerly to when I can take my little boy out on dirtbikes

There is a good chance there will be an outright ban on all off road vehicles for anyone under 14 in my province.
globeandmail.com

[Clint]

Even on private property?

[omegajim]

"ditch ban, ditch ban?" pass all the laws you like, you'll just make more criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens. More laws that deputy Fife won't enforce if he doesn't want the graveyard shift until retirement .

But go on ahead, pass all the laws you like. With every passing year I break more laws. Eventually I'll be public enemy no. 1 by default.

[Rickster]

Clint, I understand how you feel about ditch riding, I disagree, but I understand.

Loosing the ditch riding I can live with, the problem is, it won't stop there. There are a lot of people out there that have the same mind set as the guy that was quoted at the start of this thread. They want nothing short of a total ban. Even on private property.

We need to take a page from the National Rifle Association play book. Don't give them a foot hold, and fight everything. And just like the N.R.A., we can't do that, unless we stick together.

[omegajim]

I don't think we need to go all as far as the NRA. There are lots of other groups that fight for a lot of what the NRA does but the NRA is lightning rod, good or bad.

I'm trying to remember, but abate seems ring a bell. Going to have to join one of these days.

[scrimmer]

Originally Posted by Rickster

Don't give them a foot hold, and fight everything. And just like the N.R.A., we can't do that, unless we stick together.

Give 'em inch, they'll want a mile. Cliched, but so true!

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by omegajim

I don't think we need to go all as far as the NRA. There are lots of other groups that fight for a lot of what the NRA does but the NRA is lightning rod, good or bad.

I'm trying to remember, but abate seems ring a bell. Going to have to join one of these days.

Abate, and A.M.A. are good, but they arn't interested in off road all that much.

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Even on private property?

Yup. Total ban. I will keep you posted.

Sad thing is that there is organized MX for youngsters that will suffer. Then there's the idiot on the school yard that was saying is 12 year old can do a wheelie longer than he can, so he can handle the 250 cc.

A lot of people are trying to get the lawmakers make the law to state children must be on age appropriate machines.

There has been a few unfortunate accidents in the province where children have been killed recently.

[Rickster]

I know of two families in my area, that have a small amount of acreage they own, next to thier houses. They hired a contractor to come in, and build a MX track for thier boys to ride on, so the kids wouldn't get in trouble riding the ditches. One of thier neighbors is on the city counsel, and he got a petition to shut them down, because he said thier was to much dust, and noise, (he lives over a mile away). Pretty sad, when you can't even enjoy your own property the way you want to. In this case, the closest neighbors house was over 500 yards away, but they argued that the track came within about 100 feet of a county road. (Two lane blacktop 55 mph speed limit, with a bicycle lane shoulder.) I understand that part of the decision was because they considered it a distraction to drivers going by. I never heard that there were ever any accidents, so it must have just been a precaution.

[omegajim]

........and people wonder why things are done "hush hush" and "under the cover of darkness."

[scrimmer]

Originally Posted by Rickster

...but they argued that the track came within about 100 feet of a county road. (Two lane blacktop 55 mph speed limit, with a bicycle lane shoulder.) I understand that part of the decision was because they considered it a distraction to drivers going by. I never heard that there were ever any accidents, so it must have just been a precaution.

That is such utter