Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Forest Service issues tickets for snowmachining without a license (law covers wheelchairs too)
KTUU ^

Posted on 03/27/2002 3:04:18 PM PST by chance33_98

Forest Service issues tickets for snowmachining without a license

J.D. Wallace

Anchorage, Alaska, March 26 - Most Alaskans do not know that a driver's license is needed to operate a snowmachine. Although the law is the 24 years old, not many knew about it until this year. But, it may not be an issue for long.

   

     State lawmakers are working on a bill to remove the little-known requirement. The bill covers motorized vehicles spanning from wheelchairs to snowmachines. It is expected to hit the House floor soon. But the effort is already too late for some snowmachiners.
     The 120-CC eight-horsepower snowmachine is used and shows when it was registered. Dealers have to make sure to register a machine when they sell it. But whether the buyer has a driver's license is another story.
     The requirement has not been an issue for years, but a U.S. Forest Service law-enforcement officer revived that law this weekend--first with warnings, then with a ticket. And the Forest Service said it would continue the enforcement.
     "He pulled up along side us, to tell us that she had to have driver's license to ride the snowmachine. I don't know too many 5-year-olds that have a driver's license," Tom Reed said.
     Reed took his 5-year-old daughter to Turnagain Pass, where she rides an eight-horsepower snowmachine. Reed has taken his daughter riding since she was three, but it was their first run in with the law.
     "He had written tickets on another person too who had an 8-year-old kid riding their Z-120," Reed said. "It just seemed kind of stupid."  
     The 8-year-old's father, Chris Prigge, received a ticket because he contested the law.
     "When his attitude and my attitude clashed, he ran down to his truck and got his ticket book and wrote me a ticket," Prigge said.
     The law that restricts snowmachine use to licensed drivers has been around since 1978.
     Alaska State Troopers do not consider enforcing the law a priority, but the Forest Service stands behind what its officer did.
     "Our whole idea is to seek cooperation and to seek understanding. If they choose not to do that, it's up to the officer to then figure out the best way to handle that situation," said Doug Stockdale with the U.S. Forest Service.
     How the law is understood depends on who's reading it. Some, like Reed, said law enforcement is changing the rules by changing how it reads law.
     "You spend that kind of money on a toy for her to ride and the gear and it's her enjoyment," Reed said. "She enjoys riding it, she races, and I can't see--if it costs $100 a day for her to ride and she gets a ticket for it, then I'll pay the 100 bucks."
     Until the law is changed, the winter pastime for young snowmachiners could be more expensive with worse consequences.
     State Troopers released the law-enforcement bulletin in early February. The bulletin tells law officers that the court will uphold snowmachines as a motor vehicle.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: govwatch; libertarians
Hmmmmm
1 posted on 03/27/2002 3:04:18 PM PST by chance33_98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
The land of the brave and the home of the free.

Interestingly, this behavior is perfectly legal in Russia.

2 posted on 03/27/2002 3:10:39 PM PST by patton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: *libertarians;*Gov_Watch
Snowmobiles, wheelchairs, etc needing a license to drive - thankfully the government is watching out for us. Now that they license it, they can regulate it better. What ever would we do without our big brother to take care of us?
3 posted on 03/27/2002 3:18:30 PM PST by chance33_98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
Forest Service = Rabid Environmentalist = Socialist Thug.
4 posted on 03/27/2002 3:47:52 PM PST by moyden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: patton
Interestingly, this behavior is perfectly legal in Russia.

Unfortunately we were fooled into believing we were the ones who won the cold war, when in reality, it appears that Russians are a much freer people. Irony is a b**ch.
5 posted on 03/27/2002 4:47:18 PM PST by krogers58
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
My husband and I have cerebral palsy and we use motorized wheelchair's to drive around town. From what I hear, It's prefectly legal to pull someone over for DWI in a wheelchair. lol
6 posted on 03/27/2002 5:01:36 PM PST by republican lucy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
forest service wanna-be G-men. State police not enforcing any of this. Here in Alaska, we have snowmachine trails that parallel all highways.

Rural families all have several snowmachines, fact of life. Kids travel to school on them.

Big deal about nothing. Law to be soon changed to correct problem.

I could see it now. Kids laughing at state cops as they ride down the trail and into the woods . Kids running down over zealous forest service employees.

7 posted on 03/30/2002 4:41:13 AM PST by Eska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson