Putman county opted out last week. I was at the hearing and all the complaints they had listed that were caused by 4wheelers would still be against the law, tresspassing, doing doughnuts in the road, children riding unsupervised, etc. I wrote a long response in the local paper here and it is suppose to be published, I just need to find out when. I am goingto keep bothering them to no end. We need to go to the state Rep's who pasted the law, talking to the county commisioners is like talking to a tree.
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#2
ATV Activist / Putnam opted out of the law today, heres a letter I sent to the paper.
September 13, 2006, 09:29:25 PM
Today Putnam opted out of the new law. I already sent a letter to the local paper. Opinions on the letter?
Sorry about the lenght. She wrote back he was forwarding to her editor.
Dear Ms. Bryant,
I attended the hearing today for the new atv law. The board of commisioners unanimuosly voted it down. I'm not sure why they even had a hearing, they aready had their minds made up without the thoughts of the mojarity of citizens, just a select group. Most of the citizens who attended the hearing did oppose the law, they were also older and most were retired. The ones like myself who were for the law were younger. The hearing date was misprinted in the paper, I only found out of the correct date by your response to my email. I find it conveinent that the hearing was held at a time that the people who are in favor of the new law were unable to attend, I know this because everyone I talk to said they could not attend due to work, only one person was able to attend whom I talk with. It the board of commisioners wants a true citizen response they should set a hearing that larger group of people may attend. Some people may be afraid to say what they truely want fearing what others may say, myself on the other hand will speak my mind, thats a freedom we have in this country.
The majority of concerns fell into the catagory of atv's racing up and down the streets. The other concerns were kids and some adults riding around improperly: not wearing the proper saftey gear, riding with passengers, tearing up the roads and tresspassing on private propery. While these are vaild concerns, these concerns have been here long before the law ever came about. This new law did not create them, but by opposing it they force the responsible citizen to break the law when they are acting within a responsible manner. Atfer the meeting I was speaking to a couple who told me they were not concerned with the "responsible person" but the person who is being wreckless.
I agree completely on the issue of kids riding wrecklessly on atv's. Even in accordance with the new law, they would still be breaking the law, no adult supervision. This would fall on the parents, who should be held 100% responisible for any and all laws broken. My little brother is 14yrs old and rides atv's, he does not get on without his saftey gear, helmet, boots, etc. He does not race it up and down the road. We taught him from day 1 responsibilty on an atv or he does not ride. I myself also wear the correct gear and do not race up and down the roads. It is hard to enforce a helmet law for adults when there is a no helmet law in Fl. but minors are required to wear helmets even on a bicycle. The new law does not allow minors to operate an atv in this manner, so how can this be a concern for the new law.
The other concern was people coming in from surrounding counties and riding in Putnam. These people are aready riding within the county limits, their coming hear to ride is not to ride down our streets under 35mph, but to ride in the open areas of land theat is not developed like the cities they come from. The cencerns voice by many were "kids" racing around the streets. By people stating that if this law were to go into effect, we would see people come from all over to ride in Putnam in ludicris. People traveling 30-50 miles to ride are not cocerned with riding down a road, they want to go to a place were they can do more than putt down the road, they want to be able to get muddy, ride fast and not worry about cars coming down the road. If you could stop every person riding wrecklessly on our streets you would find that they are from Putnam county. The new atv law states an atv can be operated on unpaved roads, people coming here from other counties come to ride in the Ocala National Forest, the Mondex and and other areas atv's frequent not the public roads, this is not a valid concern.
The concern of the roads was addressed by all. Yes the road coniditons are poor in many areas for many reason and the county does the best they can with what resouces they have. All who opposed the law mentioned how the atv's were the cause were the large cause of this, a few addressed the maintainance issue. Yes atv's can tear up roads, when ridden in a agressive manner. When ridden in accordance to the new law they would cause no more if any damage than a vehicle 3-4 times its size and weight. I have witnessed many vehicles speeding and driving carelessly do more damage than an atv. The Sheriff's dept. stated that the speed limit on the dirt roads that have NO posted limit is 30mph, 5mph under the law. How many vehicles travel at the speed limit on these roads? The larger roads where the speed limit is over 35mph, atv's are not permitted. If the atv's are operated within the law there will be little if any additional road damage. The people causing raod damage would not be operating under the new law, in which they would still be breaking the law. This concern is also not validated.
The concern of atv's tresspassing on private property could be valid. The concerns I heard today were of atv's riding onto peoples place of residence, wether they were on a small lot or few acres, this is illegal and there is absolutly no excuse for this. There were a few concrens of atv's riding in areas that had no developing, no houses on them, while this is still illegal, there is very few places for people to ride. Most people feel the need to ride, they ride in an area off public roads away from traffic and person's homes. Would you rather they due worst things such as drugs? The new atv law does not give permission for anyone to ride on private property, the person's doing this would again still be breaking the law. So how can the new law permit this, it may reduce it by giving people an alternative place to ride.
A concern be all was on how would the Sheriff's dept would respond to calls on atv's breaking the law. The Sheriff's dept stated in the paper they recieved approx. 200 calls on atv's last month. How many of these calls where for atv's tresspassing, atcually tearing up the road, and kids riding unsupervised? How many where people calling to just report someone riding down the road that would fall within the limits of the law? Tresspassing, doing "dough nuts" riding wrecklessly and small kid are easy for most to notice, and are illegal even under the new law. Speeding would be hard to judge for most people, smaller objects appear faster, police officers go through extessive training for this, the common citizen does not. The Sheriff's dept. will determine what calls must take priority, a good Sheriff can handle, it is not an easy task. Yes the Sheriffs Dept. is short handed, but they are not the only policing agency in the county. I once asked Sheriff Kelley at a "your Sheriff's office" meeting in Interlachen about the atv problem, he told me that his concern was not the person riding down the street, but the person causing problems. Why is he so concerned about the people who would abide by the new law, the person(s) responsible for the breaking the law are who needs to be concerned with, they are doing right now. I also had a couple who apposed the law at the hearing tell me the same thing.
Commisioner Linda Myers stated "Legislature was think of much larger counties/cities when they passed this law". This law does have little effect in these areas. I am from Miami, in Miami-Dade County there are few dirt roads and few places to ride. They will not see thousnds of atv's flood the few miles of dirt roads. There are a few small undeveloped areas which atv's rides, yes it is private property and they do get run off by the police from time to time. Miami-Dade knows there is no where for them to ride and has been working on finding a solution. Commisioner Myers aslo stated " these are minor connector dirt roads with many cars on them" please define "many cars", minor connector dirt roads are not heavily traveled. In Grandin Lake Shores or Interlachen Lake Estates they can be heavily traveled. She aslo stated people use these roads to get to and from work. If people are at work, who is riding the atv's? If its "kids" then they are breaking the law and the parents should be held accountible. That claim is also dumb founded.
There are places in Fl. that have been designated for off-road use, there are also many motocross tracks in Fl. deisgned for atv's, some privately owned ans some publicly. The closet ones that I am aware of are in Bunnell and Waldo, these places are privately owned. I have been to the Bunnell track, these tracks are designed for racing and are not for the average rider. I heard how Putnam county has a large amount of public land, If they wanted to opt out of the law, open up the public land for use, give the people somthing. Why keep taking?
I agree law the was not written best it could have. People currently break atv laws according to the concerns addressed at the hearing would still be breaking the law if Putnam did not opt out. the law was not designed to allow a small group to run ramped, but to allow the majority to enjoy themselves. One person stated "these are toys and do not belong on the road" they are not toys and do not belong on paved roads, if operated within the law are safe for dirt roads. By the board of commisioners opting out of this law, they have NOT stopped peoples concerns, but force many who would abide by the law to break it now. If they were to opt in they may have reduced some. We may never know now due to oneway thinking.
Sincerly,
Tim Williams
I would like to see this letter in the paper. I know its long, but I have many friends who feel the same way. I am open for any type of interview. I will be forwarding this to my friends and try to get it circulated to the best of my ability
Thank you.
Sorry about the lenght. She wrote back he was forwarding to her editor.
Dear Ms. Bryant,
I attended the hearing today for the new atv law. The board of commisioners unanimuosly voted it down. I'm not sure why they even had a hearing, they aready had their minds made up without the thoughts of the mojarity of citizens, just a select group. Most of the citizens who attended the hearing did oppose the law, they were also older and most were retired. The ones like myself who were for the law were younger. The hearing date was misprinted in the paper, I only found out of the correct date by your response to my email. I find it conveinent that the hearing was held at a time that the people who are in favor of the new law were unable to attend, I know this because everyone I talk to said they could not attend due to work, only one person was able to attend whom I talk with. It the board of commisioners wants a true citizen response they should set a hearing that larger group of people may attend. Some people may be afraid to say what they truely want fearing what others may say, myself on the other hand will speak my mind, thats a freedom we have in this country.
The majority of concerns fell into the catagory of atv's racing up and down the streets. The other concerns were kids and some adults riding around improperly: not wearing the proper saftey gear, riding with passengers, tearing up the roads and tresspassing on private propery. While these are vaild concerns, these concerns have been here long before the law ever came about. This new law did not create them, but by opposing it they force the responsible citizen to break the law when they are acting within a responsible manner. Atfer the meeting I was speaking to a couple who told me they were not concerned with the "responsible person" but the person who is being wreckless.
I agree completely on the issue of kids riding wrecklessly on atv's. Even in accordance with the new law, they would still be breaking the law, no adult supervision. This would fall on the parents, who should be held 100% responisible for any and all laws broken. My little brother is 14yrs old and rides atv's, he does not get on without his saftey gear, helmet, boots, etc. He does not race it up and down the road. We taught him from day 1 responsibilty on an atv or he does not ride. I myself also wear the correct gear and do not race up and down the roads. It is hard to enforce a helmet law for adults when there is a no helmet law in Fl. but minors are required to wear helmets even on a bicycle. The new law does not allow minors to operate an atv in this manner, so how can this be a concern for the new law.
The other concern was people coming in from surrounding counties and riding in Putnam. These people are aready riding within the county limits, their coming hear to ride is not to ride down our streets under 35mph, but to ride in the open areas of land theat is not developed like the cities they come from. The cencerns voice by many were "kids" racing around the streets. By people stating that if this law were to go into effect, we would see people come from all over to ride in Putnam in ludicris. People traveling 30-50 miles to ride are not cocerned with riding down a road, they want to go to a place were they can do more than putt down the road, they want to be able to get muddy, ride fast and not worry about cars coming down the road. If you could stop every person riding wrecklessly on our streets you would find that they are from Putnam county. The new atv law states an atv can be operated on unpaved roads, people coming here from other counties come to ride in the Ocala National Forest, the Mondex and and other areas atv's frequent not the public roads, this is not a valid concern.
The concern of the roads was addressed by all. Yes the road coniditons are poor in many areas for many reason and the county does the best they can with what resouces they have. All who opposed the law mentioned how the atv's were the cause were the large cause of this, a few addressed the maintainance issue. Yes atv's can tear up roads, when ridden in a agressive manner. When ridden in accordance to the new law they would cause no more if any damage than a vehicle 3-4 times its size and weight. I have witnessed many vehicles speeding and driving carelessly do more damage than an atv. The Sheriff's dept. stated that the speed limit on the dirt roads that have NO posted limit is 30mph, 5mph under the law. How many vehicles travel at the speed limit on these roads? The larger roads where the speed limit is over 35mph, atv's are not permitted. If the atv's are operated within the law there will be little if any additional road damage. The people causing raod damage would not be operating under the new law, in which they would still be breaking the law. This concern is also not validated.
The concern of atv's tresspassing on private property could be valid. The concerns I heard today were of atv's riding onto peoples place of residence, wether they were on a small lot or few acres, this is illegal and there is absolutly no excuse for this. There were a few concrens of atv's riding in areas that had no developing, no houses on them, while this is still illegal, there is very few places for people to ride. Most people feel the need to ride, they ride in an area off public roads away from traffic and person's homes. Would you rather they due worst things such as drugs? The new atv law does not give permission for anyone to ride on private property, the person's doing this would again still be breaking the law. So how can the new law permit this, it may reduce it by giving people an alternative place to ride.
A concern be all was on how would the Sheriff's dept would respond to calls on atv's breaking the law. The Sheriff's dept stated in the paper they recieved approx. 200 calls on atv's last month. How many of these calls where for atv's tresspassing, atcually tearing up the road, and kids riding unsupervised? How many where people calling to just report someone riding down the road that would fall within the limits of the law? Tresspassing, doing "dough nuts" riding wrecklessly and small kid are easy for most to notice, and are illegal even under the new law. Speeding would be hard to judge for most people, smaller objects appear faster, police officers go through extessive training for this, the common citizen does not. The Sheriff's dept. will determine what calls must take priority, a good Sheriff can handle, it is not an easy task. Yes the Sheriffs Dept. is short handed, but they are not the only policing agency in the county. I once asked Sheriff Kelley at a "your Sheriff's office" meeting in Interlachen about the atv problem, he told me that his concern was not the person riding down the street, but the person causing problems. Why is he so concerned about the people who would abide by the new law, the person(s) responsible for the breaking the law are who needs to be concerned with, they are doing right now. I also had a couple who apposed the law at the hearing tell me the same thing.
Commisioner Linda Myers stated "Legislature was think of much larger counties/cities when they passed this law". This law does have little effect in these areas. I am from Miami, in Miami-Dade County there are few dirt roads and few places to ride. They will not see thousnds of atv's flood the few miles of dirt roads. There are a few small undeveloped areas which atv's rides, yes it is private property and they do get run off by the police from time to time. Miami-Dade knows there is no where for them to ride and has been working on finding a solution. Commisioner Myers aslo stated " these are minor connector dirt roads with many cars on them" please define "many cars", minor connector dirt roads are not heavily traveled. In Grandin Lake Shores or Interlachen Lake Estates they can be heavily traveled. She aslo stated people use these roads to get to and from work. If people are at work, who is riding the atv's? If its "kids" then they are breaking the law and the parents should be held accountible. That claim is also dumb founded.
There are places in Fl. that have been designated for off-road use, there are also many motocross tracks in Fl. deisgned for atv's, some privately owned ans some publicly. The closet ones that I am aware of are in Bunnell and Waldo, these places are privately owned. I have been to the Bunnell track, these tracks are designed for racing and are not for the average rider. I heard how Putnam county has a large amount of public land, If they wanted to opt out of the law, open up the public land for use, give the people somthing. Why keep taking?
I agree law the was not written best it could have. People currently break atv laws according to the concerns addressed at the hearing would still be breaking the law if Putnam did not opt out. the law was not designed to allow a small group to run ramped, but to allow the majority to enjoy themselves. One person stated "these are toys and do not belong on the road" they are not toys and do not belong on paved roads, if operated within the law are safe for dirt roads. By the board of commisioners opting out of this law, they have NOT stopped peoples concerns, but force many who would abide by the law to break it now. If they were to opt in they may have reduced some. We may never know now due to oneway thinking.
Sincerly,
Tim Williams
I would like to see this letter in the paper. I know its long, but I have many friends who feel the same way. I am open for any type of interview. I will be forwarding this to my friends and try to get it circulated to the best of my ability
Thank you.
#4
Open Discussion / Re: Co-incidence
September 12, 2006, 01:13:41 PM
I think you got that one from me :deal.gif 
#5
Open Discussion / Anyone Hungry??
September 12, 2006, 01:10:00 PM
One afternoon a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men
along the roadside eating grass. Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop
and he got out to investigate.
He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?"
"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat
grass."
"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you" the lawyer
said.
"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there,
under that tree."
"Bring them along" the lawyer replied. Turning to the other poor man he
stated, "You come with us also."
The second man, in a pitiful voice then said, "But sir, I also have a wife
and SIX children with me!"
"Bring them all, as well," the lawyer answered.
They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large
as the limousine was.
Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, "Sir,
you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."
The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my place. The grass
is almost a foot high."
along the roadside eating grass. Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop
and he got out to investigate.
He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?"
"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat
grass."
"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you" the lawyer
said.
"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there,
under that tree."
"Bring them along" the lawyer replied. Turning to the other poor man he
stated, "You come with us also."
The second man, in a pitiful voice then said, "But sir, I also have a wife
and SIX children with me!"
"Bring them all, as well," the lawyer answered.
They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large
as the limousine was.
Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, "Sir,
you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."
The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my place. The grass
is almost a foot high."
#6
Open Discussion / 25 Year Old Blonde
September 12, 2006, 01:08:39 PM
Married 25 years, I took a look at my wife one day and said, "Honey, 25
years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and
watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a
hot 25 year old blond.
"Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm
sleeping with a 50 year old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding
up your side of things."
My wife is a very reasonable woman.
She told me to go out and find a hot 25 year old blond, and she would make
sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap
car, sleeping on a sofa bed .
years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and
watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a
hot 25 year old blond.
"Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm
sleeping with a 50 year old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding
up your side of things."
My wife is a very reasonable woman.
She told me to go out and find a hot 25 year old blond, and she would make
sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap
car, sleeping on a sofa bed .
#7
Open Discussion / Re: Mind of a Woman
September 12, 2006, 01:06:38 PM
I've heard that one, but it's still funny :L :L
#8
Open Discussion / Re: Involuntary Muscular Contractions
September 12, 2006, 12:59:28 PM
Hey that realy happens around here
#10
Open Discussion / Re: Gas prices headed down..
September 11, 2006, 07:02:26 PM
It's weird how gas prices are coming down since there are elections this year 
It's nice though my Silverado SS only gets 16mpg, when I bough gas was only $1.65 or so
It's nice though my Silverado SS only gets 16mpg, when I bough gas was only $1.65 or so
#11
ATV Activist / Putnam County wants to stop the new atv law, need people to goto the hearing
September 11, 2006, 01:36:31 PM
Hey I'm new to this forum. Muddygirlatthehump told me about it. Well I use to live in Miami till 04 and moved near Gainseville. I live in Putnam county now and they want to try to keep the new atv law from going into effect on Oct.1. There was an article in the Palatka Daily News and said the hearing was on Sept. 26, but I just found out today its Wed the 13th. This is pretty conveinent for them, it means that who ever is in favor will not be there. I don't know how many people on here are from this area but it would be nice to have a good group of people there to support the law. Here is the link to the article http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2006/09/08/news/news01.txt I will be there. The sheriff is against it aswell as a few county commisioners.
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