Light Utility Vehicle (a.k.a. Side x Side and/or UTV) Update

[acres7522]

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Subject: ATV ASSN NEWS: LUV / Side x Side Update
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:03:57 -0500
From: judy.auten@nohvis.com
To: info@watva.org


Washburn County has updated their web site relative to the LUV pilot program - http://www.co.washburn.wi.us/departments/forestry/

Please post and redistribute this memo

To: All Trail Patrol Ambassadors, WATVA members, Dealers & Associated Businesses

Re: Clarification about terminology as it applies to LUV County (versus state) annual registration form and what a county specific trail pass ($$) is.

On May 7th I sent out a memo that implied a STATE registration for the LUV test counties was mandatory. In fact the registration is mandatory and while the paper form does go down to Madison DNR, technically it is an annual COUNTY Registration Form which the state DNR is recording and compiling the data from on behalf of each of the participating counties. There is no cost for this registration during the 2 year LUV pilot program.

Each county had the option of also charging a trail pass to account for the additional maintenance needs of the additional LUV traffic. As of this writing, Marinette County has implemented their additional trail pass which is $20. These Marinette County trail pass dollars only apply in their county. Currently their county web site shows 6 businesses that can sell the trail pass along with it being available at the Marinette County Forestry & Parks office.

The pertinent detailed information for Marinette County is: http://www.marinettecounty.com/departme ... 2028c38a61


The other counties sites that explain their details are:

Florence County - http://www.florencewisconsin.com/Attrac ... trails.htm


Lincoln County - http://www.co.lincoln.wi.us/departments ... 518cb4ca53


Sawyer County - http://www.sawyercountygov.org/CountyDe ... fault.aspx



Washburn County - http://www.co.washburn.wi.us/departments/forestry/

Below is the e-mail I sent out originally back on the 7th – please note the correction that the registrations are a county registration versus a state registration form, each of the pilot counties ask that LUV owners register once per year in each county they ride in so the amount of LUV traffic can be gathered, compiled and assessed as we all try to determine if a permanent LUV statewide registration and sticker program that mirrors the traditional ATV registration program should be presented to state lawmakers!

Ride Smart, Get Involved & Tell Others to do the same…….

Randy


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From: Judy Auten [mailto:judy.auten@nohvis.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:59 AM
To: info@watva.org
Subject: FW: 2 news items - spread the word!


To: All Trail Patrol Ambassadors, WATVA members, WATVA Dealers & Associated Businesses

Please spread the word that the pilot test program is now underway. Also note that Marinette County also requires a special LUV sticker, those details would be available on that county’s web site or with local county contacts. Also note that state registration is mandatory <this was improper terminology on my part!> although no state fee is required at this time. Registration information is in the press release below.

For all “Ride Smart” Trail Patrol Ambassador’s, we have a special Trail Ambassador survey form available to you, designed for those patrollers who wish to patrol in the counties that are participating in the LUV pilot test. Our goal as patrollers is to gather as much data from the traditional ATV riders who interact with the LUV riders, as well as LUV riders themselves and to use this data to help assess the test results.

We can e-mail the surveys or we can mail you hard copies. They are fairly short and easy to use……please let the NOHVIS and Rider Network office know if you want hard copies or electronic ones.

Also see the second release about the ATV Internet Safety Course now being available. This should help alleviate some of the backlog we have with our out of state visitors who have young riders that need safety certification but have a tough time scheduling it because of distances.

Ride Smart – Get Involved & Tell Others to do the same!

Lightweight Utility Vehicles temporary allowed on ATV trails
Five northern counties to host pilot program
MADISON – Lightweight utility vehicles -- also known as LUVs, UTVs or side by sides -- are now temporarily allowed on certain all-terrain vehicle trails in northern Wisconsin. Lincoln, Washburn, Sawyer, Florence and Marinette counties have elected to enroll in the LUV Pilot Program, which ends on Sept. 30, 2009.
“Members of the public interested in operating LUVs within these counties, need to visit the individual county's Web site or contact the county Forestry Department for all rules and regulations. Each county should have an online registration, which is required for each county you operate in; registration is free. Additional information or trail sticker requirements should also be reviewed with each county,” said Gary Eddy, all-terrain vehicle administrator for the state Department of Natural Resources. “The counties will regulate how and where LUVs will operate on their trails and routes.”

Passed as part of the 2007-09 State Budget, the pilot program is to be administered by the DNR -- in consultation with the Department of Transportation -- to evaluate use and effects of operating lightweight utility vehicles on all-terrain vehicle trails and routes.
“After the pilot program ends, the DNR will review the data gathered during the program, consult with the counties and then forward the results to the legislature,” Eddy said, “If things go well, the DNR will evaluate whether a statewide registration program is appropriate for these vehicles.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Eddy, All-Terrain Vehicle Administrator, (608) 267-7455 or Karl Brooks, DNR Law Enforcement - (608) 266-7820