MMR Round Two:

Anti-OHV bill (HF 1551 & SF 1381) will NOT receive hearings ...

Congratulations to all fellow motorheads who took the time to speak up

Hi gang,

I'm pleased to write and tell you that the anti-OHV bill (HF 1551 & SF 1381) will NOT receive hearings before the March 31 deadline and is DEAD for this session! Please stop making any more contacts with legislators on the bill, except for any thank-you messages you may want to send to those who have responded favorably in support of your views.

This victory is not solely due to numbers of people that responded, although one senator reported that he had received about a hundred contacts from riders. We won primarily because we presented good sound arguments why the bill was unfair, bad public policy, and a setback to sound management of OHV's in Minnesota.

OHV issues and our opponents won't be going away of course, and it is our ongoing task to work with the DNR and continue to inform our legislators on the need for OHV trail development in Minnesota. If you have occasion to see or contact your state senator or representative in the coming year, remind them of the need to "stay the course" on the DNR's trail planning efforts, and to beware of future counterproductive legislation like this year's bill.

Congratulations to all fellow motorheads who took the time to speak up and exercise your right to communicate with and influence our lawmakers. This skirmish wasn't won in the halls and offices of the capitol just by lobbyists like Ray and me telling our story to legislators. It was a combined effort with committed riders working to keep our right to responsibly recreate on public land.

Don Youngdahl

ARMCA Government Relations Officer