Op-Ed
By Don Amador
April 15, 2014
*Permission is
hereby granted for reprint
TIME FOR PROACTIVE
OSV SOUND STANDARDS
As many motorized recreationists know, I have long championed
the use of sound compliant exhaust for motorized vehicles that use public lands. Most of those efforts over the last 17 years
were focused on summer motorized uses including dirt-bikes, dual-sports, and
ATVs.
Many states have implemented reasonable sound laws and
those rules have contributed to the long-term viability of OHV use on public
lands for future generations. Having common
sense regulations in place makes it easier to defend managed OHV use in court against
anti-access litigants who had historically cited “loud bikes” as a major
complaint in their lawsuits.
The Forest Service recently submitted its proposed Over
Snow Vehicle (OSV)-specific travel planning rule to the White House Office of
Management and Budget. That agency proposal
was driven by a court decision last year that stemmed from a lawsuit filed by
the Winter Wildlands Alliance. I believe
the OSV community will continue to face a growing avalanche of anti-access lawsuits
as more National Forests (including the Inyo NF in California) undertake OSV
planning efforts.
Being proactive in the development of new recreation “tools”
(such as reasonable sound laws) is a smart practice and recreationists should
embrace these management implements for use in their land-use tool box.
In 2013, the New York State Snowmobile Association
supported a new state OSV sound law based on SAE J2567. That measure was enacted because some private
property owners were closing trails due to excessively loud snowmobiles. The New York law mirrors similar legislation
in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Colorado.
I believe it is time for states that do not have current
OSV sound regulations to work with various stakeholders in crafting sound-related
legislation that helps protect the sport and shows respect for other trail
users.
Don Amador writes
on recreation and resource issues from his office in Oakley, CA. Don is president of Quiet Warrior
Racing/Consulting and is also a contractor who serves as the Western
Representative for the BlueRibbon
Coalition. He may be contacted by email
at: damador@cwo.com
