Michigan Votes Forum

you have some kind of hatred for an inanimate object. Come here and lay on the couch. Now exactly why do you harbor all this hatred for a machine? You really should seek help.

This bill, by itself, doesn't open up even one mile of road to these vehicles. In order for that to happen, counties, cities and townships would need to vote to allow that in their areas. Why should you be telling the people in an area you don't live whether they should be able to allow these machines to operate on their roads. If you don't want them in your area, ask your local elected officials not to allow them. It's really that simple.

Because she is an old control freak lib tree hugging, kumbaya singing socialist that hates to see people enjoy themselves.

Who finds "enjoyment" in tearing up the ground (especially public ground and others' property), and otherwise intruding on other folks' space and property by riding an intrusive, destructive machine has loused up values. Or no values.

that riding an ATV on the shoulder of the road (where cars and trucks are allowed to drive on) is going to be "tearing up the ground"? Oh, thats right your last statement says it all "an intrusive, destructive machine". You have an irrational hatred of machines. I have seen these so called "intrusive, destructive machines" many times and I have never seen one start itself and become destructive. I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will now be very very careful when I walk past the dealership that sells these dangerous things.

The debate on this one is over. House Bill 4323 was signed into law this morning as Public Act 240 of 2008. Congratulations to the ORV riders and the northern Michigan local and state elected officials who turned out by the hundreds to support this bill and never backed down to the special interest groups and bureaucrats. We have prevailed!

!!!

"I am merely an old fashion conservative who believes the government should act in the interest of the public at large" This sounds like you favor mob rule. How about if the "majority" wanted to turn your yard into a picnic area? Hey, majority rules buddy. I am an old fashioned conservative that believes we have way too much government and they should leave us the heck alone.

Yep, I was the one who told the FEW enviro wacko's and greenies that did'nt want this Bill to pass, that it WOULD pass.This Bill makes SENSE for a Michigan Economy that is hard strapped for money and the communitees that support it. I personally love riding my ATV and know 1000s of others that do it in a responsable manner. Im sick/tired of folks feeding the DNR and Forest Service citation monies because they went into a northern town to buy gas/ food/ lodging and it was concidered against the law. BITE ME GREENIES-----I TOLD YOU WE WOULD WIN!

And anyone who finds enjoyment in slaming/disrespecting the great riding priveledges/needs for 97% of RESPONSABLE ORV users, does not understand the meaning of a Democracy. Even after you have been SMOKED by 97% of the folks in this very forum,in the House and Senate, you continue on with your bullshit beliefs and try to get others to see your veiws. Get over it Tree Hugger, and dont forget to wipe you ass with both sides of your toilet paper.

You all need to go to www.lucecountyorvdamage.com for a close up view

This wouldn't be the first time some dirty hippies from downstate tried to pass off logging truck damage or damage from other vehicles much heavier than ORVs as ORV damage. To their discredit, they may not even know the difference.

Let's see if Luce County adopts a new ORV ordinance.

I bet the dirty hippies even airlifted those ORVs in the Luce County pictures into the wetlands to take those pictures?

My two sons and I just returned from a visit in the up, Luce county. We spent three days up there fishing and riding ours orvs! We were harrased once at our camp site buy a want a be dnr guy for tracks someone made weeks ago running over a weed! He left after lexuring us for 15 minutes! The next day we finally decided to ride and headed up along the road to muskalong lake state park and knowing we wouldn't be allowed in decided to park off the road at the end of the park, and walk in for an afternoon picnic, and then a three diferent park rangers aprroched us like we just roobed the bank and said we were in the 490 foot range fron the park entrance and must leave because the law states 500 feet! To say the least we didin't feel very welcome at all! Funny thing is all weekend we didn't see a single rider on a orv but we did see many folks giving us a hard time!

Is it "harassment" to be asked to obey the law? ORV riders have this strange idea that laws and rules don't apply to them, that they are somehow entitled to be left to their own devices, to tear up the ground, intrude, destroy, trespass, litter, vandalize and create social conflict at will. Sheesh!

Its been well stated/documented over the years that many DNR and various other LEO's treat ORV users like first rate criminals here in Michigan. In fact, I have a friend who is a DNR officer and he once stated to me that when they go thru the Academy, they are taught to pull over anyone on an ATV/ORV no matter what they are doing. This type of harrassment is unacceptable and must be stopped. 32% OF EVERY ORV sticker goes to support LAW ENFORCEMENT, not LAW HARRASSMENT..If your caught doing something wrong, than you DESERVE a citation and some harsh tougue lashing. But just to be stereotyped by LEO's because you are on an ATV/ORV is HARRASSMENT and if it every happens to me, you can bet your ass that I'd be seeing the cop in COURT.

Cooking my breakfeast on a open camp fire while on vacation out in the woods, and to have not even fired up the orv yet is breaking the law? Hum, I can see your side, not! I won't return to that area regardless of the right to ride or not, because I did not feel very welcomed! And let's get something else straight for all you do gooder's. This wanna be dnr guy was pointing out where an orv had once opon a time riden down this trail that's not marked (older track) And if you travel a 1/4 mile down the road it looks like a nuclear bomb went off because our great concerning officals decided to clearcut the complete forest!

Even when the law gives ORVers more and more places to go closer and closer to 4,000+ lb. vehicles, it seems the ORVers just can’t stay within the defined lines. When enough berm-riding ORV’s get flattened when they skid or swerve into traffic, the law will change again. I carry a video camera with me at all times, so you ORVers better know your actions will be on candid camera. I’ll turn any of you that are not operating safely and legally into the police in a heartbeat. You all have a bad reputation to live down, and that reputation did not come about as a work of fiction. ORVer’s claim that they want to be “out in nature” is ludicrous, when they only do a good job of scaring nature away and disrupting habitat. BTW, why can’t you guys spell worth a bean? Helmet too tight?

All Northern Michigan road repair budgets are insufficient to repair roads/berms that will now be torn up by ORV's. This was a stupid piece of redneck legislation.

HA HA! They said da same ting abot da gun ccw ting! Keep wishing meathead!

The fact is 10 to 15 % of all atv'ers are potenial problem maker's, the same exact figure for automobiler's! What if we used the same double standard here and said you dirty rotten poluting noise making going off road cars/trucks etc. should not even be allowed to drive on the roads period! Is it a right or a privlige to drive reguardless of what you are driving until you abuse that right or privilge?

Knowledgeable officials that have to deal with the ATV scourge that 90 percent or more of ATV-ORV riders violate one or more laws every time they ride. That does not indicate good citizenship on the part of the ATV-ORV crowd.

“Its been well stated/documented over the years that many DNR and various other LEO's treat ORV users like first rate criminals here in Michigan.” More “poor me” whining from the elite minority that can afford and chooses to run through woods, over anything that gets in the way, tearing up the ground, ruining fish and wildlife habitat, trespassing and creating social conflict riding on expensive motorized toys. ORV users are, by and large, scofflaws, as their behavior invariably demonstrates. In Michigan they are lucky because law enforcement that would rein in their antisocial behavior is grossly underfunded and undertstaffed.

ATV’s are here to stay, we finally got our way, GRUMPY PANTS wants us to go away, but we’re here to stay. Grumpy Pants you can go out in the woods an SUCK a rock, preferable one with poison Ivy wrapped around it! Once a cry baby always a cry baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GRUMPY PANTS, GRUMPY PANTS always goes on a rant GRUMPY PANTS, GRUMPY PANTS enjoy life he/she can’t GRUMPY PANTS, GRUMPY PANTS always the neighbor that don’t fit GRUMPY PANTS, GRUMPY PANTS can’t even befriend a Deer tick GRUMPY do us a favor and pull your bottom lip over your head a swallow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish no ill to befall ATV riders, although I do think their activity should be tightly and vigorously controlled and restricted. But ATV riders who post here frequently wish ill for me. Some have threatened physical harm to my person and property. So who is the misanthrope here? By the way, wishing for ATV scofflaws to be brought to justice is not wishing ill for them. It is only wishing them their just deserts, that they receive what they have earned.

Name One!

"I carry a video camera with me at all times, so you ORVers better know your actions will be on candid camera. I’ll turn any of you that are not operating safely and legally into the police in a heartbeat." You are a pathetic little person. Get a life, find some friends (even if your family has to pay them) and get your big ole nose out of everybody elses business. you sound just like the anti smoking crusaders and the anti suv crusaders. What you really are is an anti freedom crusader, not any different than the islamofacists. You just haven't degenerated to that level yet but you will. Anyone that admits that "I carry a video camera with me at all times" needs to seek help. I wish you all the best in dealing with your mental illness. ORV's aren't the problem but you can find the problem in the nearest mirror.

Most of these so called babies are the stereo type vet's from serving this country proudly (like me) while you play with a turtle then go into the bathroom an get off on it!

Ya you got the title right! I could show you a thousand pics a hundred times worse than that where our state or federal gov has destroyed forest for timber, breathtaking views with tower all over, sound noise form stupid road designs , etc. You need to get your head out of your ass and see the bigger picture!

What you have is no life. And what you most likely are is a person of the retired nature. Who simply has nothing better to do than worry about others. Being that you are of the retired nature, You bring NO income to the county. All you bring is a bunch of complaints and soak up all the tax dollars with ss. But dont worry..those kids on the orvs will be paying for YOU when you are in the hospital to meet your maker.

I have a very rich and fulfilling life that includes remunerative and otherwise rewarding work, have a world of friends, and engage in many enjoyable activities. The enjoyable activities in which I engage take me to northen Michigan, where I spend a fair bit of my hard-earned money as I go – many thousands of dollars a year, as a matter of fact. Thing is, the activities I enjoy are not the sort that tear up the earth, destroy fish and game habitat, intrude on others, and create social conflict. Being a peace-loving sort, I also try to avoid areas that cater to that sort of behavior. You, on the other hand, seem to equate the pursuit of enjoyment with abusing the land and other people. I just don’t see your behavior as very desirable.

Why are you arguing against a bill that has already passed and been signed into law? The vote in the House and Senate wasn't even close for pete's sake. Out of 148 legislators, only 7 voted against it. None of the state's environmental groups like the Sierra Club, Michigan Environmental Council, etc. took issue with this bill. That should be indication enough about these claimed environmental problems. It looks like we have a few bruised egos from bullies who picked the wrong fight and lost, badly. Get over it.

"the activities I enjoy are not the sort that tear up the earth, destroy fish and game habitat, intrude on others, and create social conflict." And we could all get along if you just do what I want. You are a narcissitic twit. Get over it, it ain't all about you princess. Besides, if an ATV is destroying "fish habitat" then said ATV rider has more pressing problems at that moment. "Being a peace-loving sort" Let me know how that works out for you. Better get a new pair of berkenstocks, tune up the guitar and start with the kumbaya singing cause you lost this one. Maybe you can test drive an ATV and join in the fun. Some folks will fight to the death for whats right. You should thank them because they are the only thing standing between you and your "peace-loving" fellow travelers and slavery.

It sure seems so. The ATV fan’s mantra, in an ATV fan’s own words: “ … we could all get along if you just do what I want. You are a narcissitic twit. Get over it, it ain't all about you princess. Besides, if an ATV is destroying "fish habitat" then said ATV rider has more pressing problems at that moment.” In addition to being entirely uncivil and essentially sociopathic, the above utterance demonstrates profound ignorance about what ATVs do to the environment and how they do it. No wonder wherever ATVs and ORVs roam we get torn up ground, habitat destruction, problems with trespass, litter and vandalism, and social conflict. “Some folks will fight to the death for whats right. You should thank them.” That’s absolutely correct. I will continue to “fight” for maintaining restrictions on ATV-ORV recreation because it is the right thing to do. Minimizing torn up ground, habitat destruction, problems with trespass, litter and vandalism, and social conflict – all created by ATV riders in the name of “recreation” – is always the right thing.

You would think that you just equated an atv'er to a serial killer! Your the SICKO dude! You need to report directly to a doctor for imeadiate attention! There are many very respectable atv'ers out there which obey every law and have earned the right to do what they are doing! You will always have bad people or sick people like you that will cause problems, but that doesnt mean we all live in your tent!

Listen jerk, you LOST and you lost BIG! Now get over it. Your keep crying the same old BS story over/over/over about how bad ATVs are for Michigan and NOBODY in here [ or in the State of Michigan] is listening to a damn word you say.We SMOKED your ass in the House and we SMOKED your ass in the Senate and now it is a LAW. If ATVs were so damn dangerous and they tore up everything like you say, than at least ONE of the previous 19 counties that had an opened ORV ordinance in their county would have recinded the ordinance and not ONE of them even attempted this,EVER. We've had Deputy Sheriffs from various counties testify in front of the House and Senate in FULL FAVOR of HB 4323 and further state what a differance the opened shoulders make in their counties.Are these cops full of BS too? So take your cry baby ass and your video camera a stick it where the sun dont shine,cause we are tired of listeneing to your BS.Im beginning to think your brain in made out of teflon, because nothing sticks!

It is truly unfortunate that when a pro-recreation bill passes, with such wonderful prospects for positve economic growth in Michigan, the "Anti's" have to instantly start with the written abuse and negative environmental damage assumptions. Having ridden OHV's for more than 20+ yrs, in MI, UT, WV, CO, and Canada, I can personally attest to the conclusive benefits gained by allowing OHV access to good and services (via trails & road shoulders). Right now is a critical juncture in Michigan's delicate economy. We have been presented with an opportunity to improve our financially challenged system. This occasion should be a time to celebrate, knowing that the state's direct revenue will increase due to this pro-family & outdoor recreation bill. We need to move forward with continued shared outdoor access. In the future this should include SHARING trails with ALL outdoor recreationist, non-motorized and motorized alike. THANK YOU FOR PASSING THIS WONDERFUL PRO-FAMILY / PRO-RECREATION BILL. Jamison Burchfield Grand Rapids, MI

I mt. bike, road bike, run, hike, kayak, and ATV ride. It is a great way to see a large amount of beautiful scenery in a short amount of time. I resepect all the laws and never litter. I also recycle, buy most of my goods and clothing secondhand, ride my bike to work and to run some errands and drive a environmentally friendly car. I have to agree with you though, up until about 2 years ago I had the same narrowminded, judegemental view on ATV riders but don't automatically turn to the sterotypes. ATVs on the side of the road won't be any differnt then snowmobiles....at least there is a 25mph spead limit for the ATV.