Senator Tieszen wants ATV's off the roadways

[Grumpy 1]

Here is Irish58's post from another thread
Watch SouthDakotaATV.com site for more information also. I will try and remember to post things on this site too.

Here are the bill sponsors:
Senator Craig Tieszen (R), District 34 (Pennington), retired police chief
Senator Gene Abdallah (R), District 10 (Lincoln, Minnehaha), retired law enforcement
Senator Thomas Dempster (R), District 9 (Minnehaha), financial advisor
Senator Sandy Jerstad (D), District 12 (Lincoln, Minnehaha), retired professor and coach
Senator Kathy Miles (D), District 15 (Minnehaha), clinic nurse manager
Representative Shantel Krebs (R), District 10 (Lincoln, Minnehaha), business woman
Representative Thomas Brunner (R), District 29 (Butte, Meade), farmer
Representative Joni Cutler (R), District 14 (Minnehaha), attorney/university dean
Representative Marc Feinstein (D), District 14 (Minnehaha), attorney
Representative Darrell Solberg (D), District 11 (Lincoln, Minnehaha), marketing consultant

[Grumpy 1]

Here is the introduced bill and the wording the legislators will be voting on to take your ATV license and remove you from hard surface roads.  Now get to the senateTransportation committeee and tell them not to support SB 175.  We need at least 10 people from each of the committee members district to contact that Seenator an tell them you do not support SB 175 and ask them to do the same and thank them for thier consideration. 
Here is my post from another thread.  We think we can win this in committee according to one of the directors of the auto dealers association who is working to defeat this bill.  We will need bodies in that hearing room when the senate transportation committee meets on this bill and we will try to keep you informed as to when that is, it may be a very short notice like 24 to 72 hours but thats what we think it will take.  By the way all the co-sponsors on this bill but one represent Minnehaha county.

[carpe diem]

I sent a email to all my representatives and then some.  I borrowed a rough draft from Stumper and added a few thoughts and corrections of my own.  Thank you stump.   Feel free to copy and add your own additions and send right away.  It is easy to copy paste and find your representatives on the state site.  Here is my email.

Links  http://legis.state.sd.us/email/LegislatorEmail.aspx?MemberID=30

http://legis.state.sd.us/who/index.aspx

I am contacting you with great concern. It has come to my attention that you are of the opinion that the people of this great state should lose their ability to license their atv's for street or highway use. I personally use my atv's for a variety of purposes from hunting, fishing, trail riding and work around the acerage. At times I need to ride on a paved or gravel road, but I have licensed it according to state laws. I feel it is no more dangerous than your average motorcycle.  Keeping up with traffic is not a problem. Atv's have become an economical way of travel for many people in South Dakota. Properly equipped they are as safe or safer than motorcycles, providing better stability and visibility to other drivers.. Manufactures of atv's dont send these machines out with the equipment needed to license them, hence the reason they dont recommend for use on roads. I am an avid atv rider and I am in contact with many riders across the state. I have yet to hear of any safety issues related to atv's on the street. Law enforcement has even began using these great modes of transportation. I would think if they felt these were a danger on the street that they would not be using them, wouldnt you agree? Every activity you engage in has inherent risks, to say riding an atv is more dangerous than any other mode of transportation is in my opinion an uneducated statement. Who is going to replace the taxes counties lose when these are removed from the street? I was under the impression that our counties need every dollar they can get at this point. If you want to do something positive for the state of South Dakota, propose a bill that will create more trail systems state wide. Sell trail permits for trail use and make these required on atv's whether they are licensed for the street or not. Simply taking away our plates and going to a tag system will not generate enough money to support our trails. Why you may ask? Alot of eastern atv owners will not travel across the state just to ride a trail.  I feel like this is an ill attempt by some of your west river colleagues to advance a trail system that will benefit their side of the state and leave many others suffering from their ill attempts at a west river trail system.  This just seems like a step backwards to me. I feel the best option would be to advance a trail system while keeping the current revenue generating license system intact.  It has worked in other states and I feel it can work in this great state too.  I was under the impression that at times less government is better, I feel this may be one of those instances.  I feel that when the insurance industry voices their concerns relating to insuring these for street or highway use, we can then re-evaluate this issue. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Your Name Here!

[Go Faster]

I sent this to all of the Minnehaha reps that are supporting this bill:


I am writing to inform you that I am upset with your support of SB 175 which would take away the ability to license ATVs and ride them on hard surface roads.  I won’t go into the many reasons why this is a dumb idea as I’m sure by now you have heard all of the pleas about the issue.  I am writing to say that I am disappointed that as a member of the Republican party that you can’t see that this is a needless erosion of the rights we have and love in this state.  Big government equals big problems.  Whose getting hurt here is the thousands of ATV owners, not the average citizen.  I voted for you as a Republican but I can say you will not get my vote in the next election if this is the sort of legislation that you are supporting.

[carpe diem]

I have recieved quite a few responses from the twenty or so reps I emailed.  Their responses ranged from the canned "thank you for your opinion, I will take it into consideration", to "I don't support this bill, where did you think I did".  I stopped by Moto Plex and signed the informal petition too.  Hopefully every little bit helps.

[sdslw]

Here is an interesting one for you guys.  I got a response from Sen. Sandy Jerstad on Jan 15th saying she doesn't mind ATVs on the road, yet today I see she is a sponsor of SB175.  I emailed her again asking what the deal really is and will keep you updated if I get a response.

[Grumpy 1]

The agenda at http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2010/CommitteeMembers.aspx?Committee=13 doesn't show the time of the hearing but i'm guessing it will be on the 17th.  Guess what here is my cost to license.
 I just returned from the Butte County treasure and here is what my ATV and trailer license would cost.The toy hauler travel trailer is $123.00, the 99 Kawasaki $38.30, one red Bombardier $41.80, the other Red bombardier $25.40, My yellow CanAm $29.00, my two place home made that I have used for years $12.50, my 4 place enclosed trailer $45.56 for a total of $315.56 for licenseing what I use when ATVing in South Dakota. I have never pulled any of the trailers in another state but let me tell you if we loose our license plates I will have two trailers for sale and will keep my toy hauler to go to other states.  Butte county has a $2.00 wheel tax.

[Grumpy 1]

Just got word that the transportation committee hearing will be at 7:45am, Wed, Feb. 17.  People should be there NLT 7;20am so we can schedule speakers. State government will have speaker there to support the bill.  Critical that we make our voices heard. 
 

[coldchamber96]

Response i just got from senator Abdallah (sp)

I signed on to this bill not necessarily in support of it, but rather to hear the debate.  I am leaning against supporting it and will probably vote NO.

[Thumper700]

That's great to hear, but what about modifying the bill so we still get a trail system and get to ride on the road?

[helmjama]

so from what ive read on the bill its to take us off the paved roads. we can still drive down the gravel roads and in the citys that allow us to. now souix falls if they wanted to could make it so you cant ride in the city if they put an ordance out. even with out licenses i think. even if not i would rather buy a sticker to have money put towards the trails and other off road areas then put all my money towards paved roads that my atv isnt gona hurt. i can still drive my gravel roads and as long as the citys that i go to dont get pissed at idiots i can drive there. i dont enjoy driving around town its kinda boring i would rather go out and find some of the grass roads and see where they go. so i think either way if the bill goes threw or if it doesnt it shouldnt mess with us to much. darn cant ride on the smooth hwy with my independent atv.

[stumper]

Huh?

[bottlerocket]

I think he was drunk when he wrote that.  LOL   

[Grumpy 1]

GETTER DONE
DO YOUR PART SAVE THE PLATES

[/color]
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Hearne
To: Ed Goss
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 4:04 PM
Subject: sb175 - please forward to all of your contacts.


NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT ON THE FULL COURT PRESS !! 
This bill is scheduled for hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Wed, Feb 17 at 7:45am.  In order to preserve the ability to license ATVs and drive them on the road as is now done we must kill this bill at the committee hearing. 
I would like each of the members of this committee to receive at least 100 emails or phone calls asking that the bill be killed.  I make a personal commitment to develop alternative legislation that will fund an ATV trail system but not negatively impact current users or other stake holders.
 
Call or email your comments or concerns.  Possible talking points include:
Explain how you use your ATV on roads and how important this use is to you.
Mention the loss of funding from the ATV registration monies that will be lost to the counties for road maintenance.
Mention that removing the licensing of ATVs will reduce funding for Motorcycle Safety Training by about 28%.
Mention that the Department of Public safety accident reports do not indicate that ATVs create a public safety issue.
 
You don't need to talk about all of these.  Talk about the points that are important to you.  Please complete you calls or emails  to EACH member not later than Monday at noon.  Timing is critical to achieve the results we need.  If you and your concerned friends make the call/emails... we will be successful.  Please help me out and do your part.
 
Note:  The members capitol phone number is listed on the far right side of the cart below.
 
 
 
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE           
LastName FirstName Body HomePhone Email HomeAddress1 HomeCity ST HomeZip CapitolAddress1 CapitolAddress2 District BusinessPhone Fax CapitolPhone
Vehle Mike S 605-996-5778 sen.vehle@state.sd.us 132 N Harmon Drive Mitchell SD 57301 Ramkota  20 605-995-1109  605-224-6877
Fryslie Art S 605-625-3067 sen.fryslie@state.sd.us 43404 188th St Willow Lake SD 57278-5406   6   
Hanson Gary S 605-698-7964 sen.hanson@state.sd.us 45897 118th St Sisseton SD 57262 Governors Inn  1  605-698-4166 605-224-4200
Howie Gordon S 605-393-2686 Sen.Howie@state.sd.us 23415 Bradsky Rd Rapid City SD 57703-8847 Holiday Inn Express  30 605-393-2334 605-393-0118 605-773-3821
Kloucek Frank S 605-583-4468 sen.kloucek@state.sd.us  29966 423rd Ave Scotland SD 57059   19   605-773-3821
Maher Ryan S 605-466-2389 sen.maher@state.sd.us PO Box 237 Isabel SD 57633-0237   28 605-967-2191 605-967-2196 605-850-3598
Schmidt Dennis S 605-348-7158 sen.schmidt@state.sd.us PO Box 797 Rapid City SD 57709-0797   33   605-773-3821

 
 
Bill Hearne, Operating Manager
Outdoor MotorSports
3245 E Colorado Blvd.
Spearfish, SD 57783
Voice 605-642-7731 or 1-877-642-7731
Fax 605-642-8168
e-mail:  bhearne@outdoor-motorsports.com
Web: http://www.outdoor-motorsports.com/
 
 

[Go Faster]

I got this back from Shantel Krebs:

Thank you John for your email and comments.  I will be amending the bill to take out section 9 which prohibits them on the hard surface roads but the rest of the bill is in response from the study conducted 3 years ago where industry riders and dealers supported permitting and creating a trail fund which is the main reason for this bill.  The bill process is always a long road with compromise along the way...this is where I said I would sponsor this bill on the House side if it made it out of the Senate.  At the time it arrives in the House I will amend section 9 to keep the bill alive to create the trail system which most of you riders want. 
I hope I clarified how we are working to help your industry with amendments along the way....
Rep Shantel Krebs
Dist 10
351 5916 cell