Toy4x
08-03-2002, 08:49 AM
BlueRibbon Magazine, August 2002, pg 7,
by Bill Dart, BRC Public Lands Director
"Florida Legislature Mandates OHV Riding Areas
OHV enthusiasts in FL scored a HUGE victory recently with the enactment of the "T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Safety & Recreation Act", which requires the creation of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) areas and trails.
Florida activists worked for several years in their effort to improve and expand OHV riding opportunities in FL, which does not have very many public land riding opportunities today. This new law requires the state Division of Forestry to develop and maintain a system of motorized recreation trails and areas on public land. As a first assignment, the Division of Forestry is mandated to develop a report recommending five areas for OHV recreation, to be submitted to the FL governor and the legislature by January 1 of 2003.
The program will be funded from off-highway vehicle title fees. Additionally, the Division of Forestry was required to publish a guidebook, with all of the pertinent laws on OHV use, as well as maps of the systems areas and trails.
Mark Schmidt, the person the program is named after, was a FL motorcycle dealer who strongly supported a state OHV program. Unfortunately, he passed away before seeing his efforts, and the work of many FL OHV enthusiasts, come to fruition. Hopefully, the new program will move aggressively to carry out their mandate."
by Bill Dart, BRC Public Lands Director
"Florida Legislature Mandates OHV Riding Areas
OHV enthusiasts in FL scored a HUGE victory recently with the enactment of the "T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Safety & Recreation Act", which requires the creation of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) areas and trails.
Florida activists worked for several years in their effort to improve and expand OHV riding opportunities in FL, which does not have very many public land riding opportunities today. This new law requires the state Division of Forestry to develop and maintain a system of motorized recreation trails and areas on public land. As a first assignment, the Division of Forestry is mandated to develop a report recommending five areas for OHV recreation, to be submitted to the FL governor and the legislature by January 1 of 2003.
The program will be funded from off-highway vehicle title fees. Additionally, the Division of Forestry was required to publish a guidebook, with all of the pertinent laws on OHV use, as well as maps of the systems areas and trails.
Mark Schmidt, the person the program is named after, was a FL motorcycle dealer who strongly supported a state OHV program. Unfortunately, he passed away before seeing his efforts, and the work of many FL OHV enthusiasts, come to fruition. Hopefully, the new program will move aggressively to carry out their mandate."