Arizona State PArks ignoring OHV Board

[bonuspointjohn]

I assume that a lot of the CWT folks are OHV riders. When the OHV bill was passed a few years ago, there was the establishment of OHVAG that was supposed to be the defining board for applicants that wanted to apply for grants for OHV projects. Roads, trail maps, construction etc. I received an e-mail today that says the Arizona State Parks Board is ignoring their recommendations for grants and is applying the monies where the state parks board wants it to go. Long ago the fact that the Arizona State Parks had control of the OHVAG money was astounding.... and the monies were swept year after year from OHVAG..... It appears that once again the omnipotent state Parks board is raiding monies with impunity. There is not a single inch of trails in any state parks...and they administer the funds....Politics gone from bad to worse for the OHV groups...BPJ

[Snapshot]

A state department not using money for which it was intended? Imagine that!

 

They were suppose to hire more OHV patrol personnel also. They fell short on that deal.

 

I am glad the money for the expensive OHV sticker I am forced to buy is being spent on something else.

[AZLance]

PBJ , what is AZSFW going to do about this?

[AZHUNTER05]

Ya i think its stupid you need a OHV sticker for a vehicle that is already registered, insured, and street legal. It's just another way to tax people.

[azshtr]

Ya i think its stupid you need a OHV sticker for a vehicle that is already registered, insured, and street legal. It's just another way to tax people.

 

I thought if it was street legal and registered as such you didn't need an OHV tag? OHV was just for those not registered.

[Snapshot]

Ya i think its stupid you need a OHV sticker for a vehicle that is already registered, insured, and street legal. It's just another way to tax people.

 

I thought if it was street legal and registered as such you didn't need an OHV tag? OHV was just for those not registered.

 

Nope. The OHV sticker is for any atv type vehicle or motorcycle that will be offroad on Federal, state, or BLM land, regardless if it is registered as street legal

You can drive your street legal OHV on state county roads without an OHV sticker, but the minute you go off of maintained roads you fall under the OHV tag law.

 

 

What is considered an off-highway vehicle for the purpose of obtaining the OHV Decal?

• An off-highway vehicle is any motor vehicle operated on unimproved roads, trails and approved use areas not suitable for conventional two-wheel-drive vehicular travel. Examples include: ATVs, ROVs, trail motorcycles and dirt bikes.
  

[AZHUNTER05]

I believe its for any vehicle under 2000 pounds made for using off road.

[AZHUNTER05]

Oh and it has to be registered and have a plate just to get a ohv sticker! I had a 2 stroke dirt bike and they made me buy a plate and register it before they would give me a ohv sticker. I was furious when i found that out.

[DesertBull]

I knew when they started the stupid law that none of the money would ever go to OHV projects.

[Snapshot]

I knew when they started the stupid law that none of the money would ever go to OHV projects.

 

Just another revenue enhancement scam

[DesertBull]

and they don't spend a dime on enforcement.

[bonuspointjohn]

PBJ , what is AZSFW going to do about this?

Unless you have been buried for the past 3 months, the whole world knows that the AZSFW is no more. The funding source removed themselves from Arizona politics and the vote was taken to disband. That happened a few months back...BPJ

[bonuspointjohn]

and they don't spend a dime on enforcement.

Not true. The AZGFD did manage to hire the OHV officers and they have been working in the field. That department is headed up by Jimmy Simmons, who at one time was a WM in unit 23, then over to I think DPS and finally back to the department a couple of years ago. So the money that came to the department has stayed. The OHV grant money always has been sent to State PArks, but they continually sweep the funds to pay for their own personnel. The OHV boys need to play tough...BPJ

[bonuspointjohn]

PBJ , what is AZSFW going to do about this?

 

PBJ , what is AZSFW going to do about this?

Kind of an interesting question..... since you know that the AZSFW was disbanded over 3 months ago.......BPJ

[bonuspointjohn]

<img alt="" border="0" height="152" width="606" />

July 12, 2012

 

 

Dear Arizona OHV Community,

 

Many of you recently received a letter from Mr. John Savino, Chairman of Arizona State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Group. Although I appreciate Mr. Savino’s passion, his message requires some clarification. Please allow me to briefly address the current relationship between the OHV community in Arizona and Arizona State Parks.

 

AZ State Parks and the OHV Community are partners. AZ State Parks is Legislatively required to manage OHV Sticker funds in an effort to enhance OHV operations throughout the State of Arizona. I take that responsibility very seriously.

 

As the new Arizona State Parks Director, I was very concerned when I was briefed that OHV sticker money is having trouble getting to OHV programs. OHV sticker money is the OHV community’s money! Let me say that again. OHV sticker money belongs to the entire OHV community. When I say the entire community, I mean everyone who drives off-highway. Those people include campers, hunters, birders, hikers, equestrians, etc.

 

Working with Parks staff, the Parks Board and the Attorney General’s office, I wanted to put a program in place that would ensure appropriate OHV Grants were adequately addressed, fairly scored and awarded in a timely manner. Most importantly, I wanted to make sure the OHV community was well represented.

 

At the June ‘12 Parks Board meeting the Board adopted a new policy for awarding OHV Grant Funds. The core of the policy rests with the original OHV legislation. Effective immediately, OHV grants will be reviewed and graded by the following partners: Off Highway Vehicle Advisory Group (OHVAG), Arizona Outdoor Recreation Coordination Committee (AORCC), and Arizona State Parks Staff.

 

The final decision for grant awards rests completely with the AZ State Parks Board. The final piece of the puzzle is establishing the correct criteria for grading/awarding OHV grant dollars. To that end, we are gathering OHV experts to determine the way ahead. We will have public meetings in the coming months with members of your community to ensure we get your input.

 

Mr. Savino also brought up the issue of the initiative, The Arizona Natural Resources Protection Act. Let me be clear. Arizona State Parks did not write the initiative. Although we surely appreciate any group who steps up to seek long term funding for the Parks, we were not part of the initiative drafting process. The issue of a single Parks fund that might strip OHV of their funds was an issue I personally discussed with Mr. Savino. I made it clear that the OHV community would “remain whole” no matter the funding source. The OHV community can ask for more assurances, but that is all I can do. As far as I am concerned, OHV funds were never at risk.

 

When all was said and done, the initiative was unable to gather the required signatures to get on the ballot. I encourage the OHV community to engage their legislators to ensure that any future funding legislation specifically addresses OHV funds.

 

Lastly, there is the issue of almost $700,000 from OHV sticker money being used to help operate AZ State Parks. Although completely legal, I philosophically disagree with the practice. OHV money needs to go to OHV stuff. Arizona State Parks will wean itself of sticker money over the next few years. Make no mistake, OHV money was a huge factor in keeping State Parks open following the more than $80M in legislative funding sweeps. We couldn’t have done it without your help. But, it’s time to step up and make things right. Again, OHV sticker money is for OHV programs.

 

I look forward to working together for our great state in the future. Please feel free to contact me directly with your questions and concerns. We are partners! This message was sent to all who received the Savino e-mail about the funding issues. Hopefully Mr. Martyn will keep to his "Philosophical" beliefs and not lobby the legislature for the funds in the future...BPJ