New Michigan OHV Law Meeting

The Michigan State House of Representatives will be voting on a series of bills that will have numerous changes on Off Highway Vehicle trail fees, registration fees, Safety Training, Law Enforcement, and riding on County Roads. One of the people that has worked closely on the new Michigan OHV laws, Dick Ranney, will be traveling throughout the State this week.

Ranney will be in Bruce Crossing this Saturday to explain the new OHV Legislation, along with answering questions. Mi-TRALE is coordinating this meeting, to be held at Tulppo's at 4:00 pm EST. The meeting is open to the public. The other Upper Peninsula Meeting that Ranney will attend in the Upper Peninsula will be this Sunday in Seney. Earlier this week Ranney logged on over 1700 miles stopping at different communities throughout the state.

One of the many parts of the different bills regarding OHV recreation in Michigan is to raise the annual Trail Sticker Fee to $30.50, and to begin registering OHV's through the Secretary of State. The Registration fee will be $20.00 for 3 years. The Annual Trail Sticker fees would have increases, like the current Snowmobile Trail Permit Program.

The legislation also includes major changes to the ATV Safety Program. Changes such as requiring instructors to attend an Instructor Academy and to require the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Enviornment to begin working on a 'hands-on' segment for ATV Safety Students. The new legislation will also provide additional money for Law Enforcement.

The law that opened Northern Michigan County Roads to OHV riding is proposed to be enacted State-Wide.

"It is important that OHV enthusiasts and the public attend this meeting, as it is not all that often that the Western and Central Upper Peninsula is given the opportunity to participate in OHV Legislation," stated Mi-TRALE President Skip Schulz. "Mr. Ranney is giving us this opportunity, and we need to take advantage of this," concluded Schulz.

Some of the bills associated with the new Michigan OHV Legislation has already been introduced into State House Committee's. Schulz stated that amendments could be added to the legislation. Ranney anticipates that the new Michigan OHV Legislation will go to the Michigan State House of Representatives by early June.