Ny Riders: Important must read - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

**RJ Gleason** · 02-20-2006, 08:09 AM

I have just recieved confirmation that the governor's budget for the 2006 fiscal year includes a RAID on the trails fund to the extent of $2.5 million to be transfered to the general fund.

I am trying to post a copy of the letter that I recieved from Senator Seward on this matter, If it does not work, You can email me and I will Send it on to you. To contact your senator, use the forllowing link.

http://www.senate.state.ny.us/sdlookup.nsf/Public_search?OpenForm[/url]

http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

THE SENATE
STATE OF NEW YORK

JAMES L. SEWARD
SENATOR, 51 ST DISTRICT
February 16, 2006

WWW.SENATORJIMSEWARD.COM
Email; SEWARD@SENATE.STATE.NY.US

Mr. R. J. Gleason

Groton, New York 13073

Dear Mr. Gleason:

Thank you for contacting my office concerning the governor's proposed raid on the snowmobile trail fund. The governor's 2006-07 state budget calls for grabbing $2.5 million in snowmobile trail funds and sweeping it into the state's general fund. Under the governor's plan, money available for trails would drop from $3.4 million to $1.9 million.

I agree with your position completely. I didn't vote for a trail fund in order to see it raided by the state and diverted to their purposes. That breaks faith with the snowmobilers who pay registration fees that they have requested, and accepted, in order to have local trails. The governor is completely and totally wrong on this issue and I will fight it every step of the way.

The proposal also gives state policy makers a black eye. People will wonder whether the state can ever keep its word to the people we serve.

We have a tough row to hoe this year. New York is facing some difficult challenges that require strong leadership and genuine, bipartisan solutions. Property taxes are too high; our upstate economy is suffering; and our talented young people are leaving the state for jobs elsewhere. My priority this year is simple, protecting the hardworking, overburdened New York taxpayer as we adopt a new "3 Rs" : Revitalize our economy, renew our commitment to tax cuts, and recommit to helping our ,students achieve more in the classroom.

What I'm working for: an on-time budget without a penny in new taxes.

As you know, the legislature's role in making changes to a governor's budget has been severely curtailed by the court of appeals. However, I will do what I can to protect the integrity of the snowmobile trail fund.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again if I can be of additional assistance.

With best wishes, I remain

P.S. Please check my web site --
www.senatorjimseward.com -- for news, updates, information and on-line legislative poll.

Cleve · 02-20-2006, 10:41 AM

Thanks, R.J., for making us aware of this issue. I just e-mailed my opposition to the Governor's scheme to my area senator - Dale Volker.

PolarisINDY500 · 02-20-2006, 01:40 PM

that blows!!!

dont worry, if my memory serves me correctly the MI govenor, Jenifer Ganholm, did the same thing. she took funds and put them into the general fund...which basically means she can spend it how ever she wants, and not necessarily on the trails.

..i believe that happened last year

AvroAero · 02-20-2006, 02:19 PM

Thats to bad, goverments always screw me over.

ny farmer · 02-20-2006, 05:52 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I checked out the NYSSA website, and they have drafted letters available to copy and send to senators and assembly members.

NYSSA Homepage

Copy of Letter

I'm going to send mine right now.

robr · 02-20-2006, 06:58 PM

Email sent. Will snail mail a letter as well.

**RJ Gleason** · 02-20-2006, 10:34 PM

With the Assn. lobbiests and the grass roots campaign, I believe that we can prevent this from happening. All must get involved to stop this theft, and that includes the out of state riders as well who use the NY trail system.

rgoers · 02-21-2006, 08:29 PM

Thanks for bringing this to SF. I hadn't thought of that...

I already sent email a couple weeks ago, when I first learned of the evil scheme.

I just wrote 2 more letters (one for senator, and one for assemblyman) which will go out in the mail tomorrow. If anyone wants an MS Word version of my letter, just PM me with your email address. I'll be happy to send it.

Stinkin' state will TAX us any way they can think of...

ecsnowmobiling · 02-25-2006, 09:43 AM

Thanks for showing us this. It really makes me mad though. Because to register one sled it's 45 and 100 if your not in a club next year. And they can charge that much so we can just ride our snowmobiles for the 3 or 4 month time period. And we except our money go to the trails like the government says they are going. And then they go and screw us over and take our trail funding money and put in the "general" fund. That just make mad that they did it.

ptrapper65 · 02-25-2006, 03:21 PM

Thanks for the heads up. These things that they do behind the sceens make me very angry. Off to write a letter.

**RJ Gleason** · 02-26-2006, 08:24 AM

It hasn't happened yet, it's only the proposed budget so far. If we get on this immediately and write our state senators and representitives, we can have it removed. Use the provided links and do it right away.

http://www.nyssnowassoc.org/
New York State Snowmobile Association

dirtrules · 02-27-2006, 09:20 PM

RJ, all, looking for some clarification on yet another NYS regulation. I understand it is now illegal to ride over 55MPH on any and all public land?

A. Is this true and as of when?

B. What are your opinions on this?

As far as I am concerned this is another ridiculous example of a blanket policing. This law was put forth by a group of tight-a$$e$ who have obviously never ridden. I say this because they grab a number out of the air, in this case one which just happens to be the same as our state speed limit, and decide to apply it to all snowmobiling on public land. Apparently, whether you are in the middle of a 12 mile long lake or in the woods dodging trees you can't go more than 55MPH. I agree speed limits on trails might be a good idea, but you have to know when you are being over-regulated.... this is it again...

**RJ Gleason** · 02-28-2006, 03:33 AM

The 55 mph limit applies to PUBLIC TRAILS ie; all marked trails whether funded or not. Unmarked trails are concidered private and do not apply. If our state assn. had not been involved so deeply in the process of deafting the new law, the limit could have been much lower as in some of the neighboring states where it is 45 mph and even 35 mph.

the speed limit portion of the SSRA took effect as of Feb.19.

I feel that the 55 or as prudent is better than the old language of reasonable and prudent for conditions. It is an attempt to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities. Also has provisions for DWI.

Have you read the entire law? It is available on the assn. web site.

http://www.nyssnowassoc.org/
New York State Snowmobile Association

2004gixxer600 · 03-01-2006, 10:56 PM

Who the hell is gonna follow a 55mph limit? Especially one thats almost impossible to enforce. Bogus, Gov't over regulating is right. NY laws and taxes are rediculous, things just keep getting worse, not only in this sport, but in all things NYS.

If they start charging 100 next year to register sled if yer not in a club, looks like I just won't register. They can kiss my behind. Where I ride there is no enforcement anyways.

rgoers · 03-02-2006, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2004gixxer600
... They can kiss my behind. ...

Then NY will have to come up with a KYA tax...

SnoX · 03-27-2006, 09:51 AM

I doubt anybody actually followed the 55mph law this year. I passed many people going at least 65mph on the wide logging roads used for snowmobiling in upstate NY. Towns in the Adirondacks are losing more and more money. Snowmobiling season is an important part of the year because that is when most buisnesses get their buisness.

95ZR700/140HP · 07-29-2006, 09:35 PM

dont worry we stopped pataki from raidin that trail fund.we were informed of this at last snowmobile club meeting.