TEAM DEBEAD
Rock Crawler
On January 1, 2013 new laws will go into effect in California that greatly limit who can ride in the state's definition of an OHV, which includes all Side by Sides. I just found out about a bill that Governor Brown already signed:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1595_bill_20120724_chaptered.pdf
This bill requires anyone riding in an OHV, can be a dune buggy, Jeep, or side by side, to wear a helmet. This one isn't a big deal. I don't necessarily agree with it, I think people should have a choice when they have a roll cage surrounding them. But it's the other parts that are bad for anyone with kids or for anyone who has a disability like dwarfism or amputations. I described the sections in a letter I sent to the governor.
Via this link http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php , I am asking for any off road enthusiasts to copy and paste what I wrote and send a letter too. Or if you want to write something different, be my guest :mrgreen: If we don't stop things like this, it won't be long before we won't have anywhere in Cali to be an off road enthusiast, all our toys will be banned!
Dear Governor Brown,
I was very saddened to learn today that you signed and approved this bill, Assembly Bill No. 1595, specifically because of CHAPTER 165 ( http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/..._chaptered.pdf ). Unfortunately this misguided tax bill has turned into a bill that will greatly limit the enjoyment and use of Off Highway Vehicles within the state of California. The new regulations to be enforced on OHVs will greatly limit the activities that families can do together and waste a lot of people's hard earned money. As you very well know times are economically tough, and people have to spend their money very carefully. To refresh your memory on a portion of this bill, specifically targeting OHVs, which includes side by sides:
38603. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall not
allow a passenger to occupy a separate seat location not designed and
provided by the manufacturer for a passenger.
Many companies have been making after market rear passenger seats for the Yamaha Rhino, a Side by Side, for years. These seats are installed the same way a seat is installed into a car or pickup truck, bolted to the vehicle and providing the proper seat belt and /or harnesses required by law. This new bill makes these seats illegal because they are not manufactured by Yamaha. So anyone who has bought a 2 seater Rhino and added the extra seats in order to take the entire family on a ride, will no longer be allowed to use those rear passenger seats. Families will no longer be able to enjoy spending time together. Manufacturers who make these seats will now lose out on the entire market of California, costing the state thousands, if not millions of dollars in sales taxes. Jobs may even come into question if these companies no longer have a market to sell their product. Those who bought one of these vehicles to make sure they could take the whole family out, will now have to see a waste of money sitting in front of them. There are manufacturer produced 4 seater OHVs available, but they are very pricey and tough for families to afford in this economy. And how do they sell what they currently have to a market where it's illegal to use it?
Another portion of this bill will greatly effect people with disabilities:
38604. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall not
ride with a passenger, unless the passenger, while seated upright with his
or her back against the seatback with both feet flat on the floorboard, can
grasp the occupant handhold with the seatbelt and shoulder belt or safety
harness properly fastened.
Any person with dwarfism and/or amputated limbs will now be excluded from enjoying the state of California in an OHV, as described in the bill. There have been harnesses, specifically manufactured for OHVs, that will hold a person tightly in their seat, if properly fastened, in the event of a crash, even a rollover. People of limited stature or with disabilities can ride in complete safety and comfort with these harnesses installed, yet this bill will force them to have to reach the floor and a safety handle, which they will never be able to do. Therefore, you are telling them that they cannot ride.
Anyone with small children will now have to leave their children behind when they go for a ride because of this portion of the bill. Currently, it is possible for people to install a child safety seat, approved for all California motor vehicles, in order to take their children with them in an OHV. When the new bill you approved becomes a law on January 1, 2013, this will no longer be legal. Millions of families that enjoy outdoor activities that include using OHVs may stop vacationing in California because of this new bill. It may push tourism to neighboring states where the laws don't prevent families from spending time together. People may stop using their OHVs all together, lowering the annual income that our state parks and BLM managed lands bring in.
Off road enthusiasts believe in safety, especially when it comes to the safety of their families. But this bill was written without families in mind and doesn't allow for the safety measures in use already to be utilized any longer. Please, for the sake of all the OHV enthusiasts that live in the great state of California, rescind this bill. Rewrite it to ensure that all people, regardless of disabilities, can enjoy OHVs with the entire family. Don't let people feel that they just bought something that will be illegal and useless in 6 months, don't let jobs get cut, and don't let California lose out on the billions of dollars spent on the off road lifestyle.
Hoping for change,
(your name here)
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1595_bill_20120724_chaptered.pdf
This bill requires anyone riding in an OHV, can be a dune buggy, Jeep, or side by side, to wear a helmet. This one isn't a big deal. I don't necessarily agree with it, I think people should have a choice when they have a roll cage surrounding them. But it's the other parts that are bad for anyone with kids or for anyone who has a disability like dwarfism or amputations. I described the sections in a letter I sent to the governor.
Via this link http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php , I am asking for any off road enthusiasts to copy and paste what I wrote and send a letter too. Or if you want to write something different, be my guest :mrgreen: If we don't stop things like this, it won't be long before we won't have anywhere in Cali to be an off road enthusiast, all our toys will be banned!
Dear Governor Brown,
I was very saddened to learn today that you signed and approved this bill, Assembly Bill No. 1595, specifically because of CHAPTER 165 ( http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/..._chaptered.pdf ). Unfortunately this misguided tax bill has turned into a bill that will greatly limit the enjoyment and use of Off Highway Vehicles within the state of California. The new regulations to be enforced on OHVs will greatly limit the activities that families can do together and waste a lot of people's hard earned money. As you very well know times are economically tough, and people have to spend their money very carefully. To refresh your memory on a portion of this bill, specifically targeting OHVs, which includes side by sides:
38603. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall not
allow a passenger to occupy a separate seat location not designed and
provided by the manufacturer for a passenger.
Many companies have been making after market rear passenger seats for the Yamaha Rhino, a Side by Side, for years. These seats are installed the same way a seat is installed into a car or pickup truck, bolted to the vehicle and providing the proper seat belt and /or harnesses required by law. This new bill makes these seats illegal because they are not manufactured by Yamaha. So anyone who has bought a 2 seater Rhino and added the extra seats in order to take the entire family on a ride, will no longer be allowed to use those rear passenger seats. Families will no longer be able to enjoy spending time together. Manufacturers who make these seats will now lose out on the entire market of California, costing the state thousands, if not millions of dollars in sales taxes. Jobs may even come into question if these companies no longer have a market to sell their product. Those who bought one of these vehicles to make sure they could take the whole family out, will now have to see a waste of money sitting in front of them. There are manufacturer produced 4 seater OHVs available, but they are very pricey and tough for families to afford in this economy. And how do they sell what they currently have to a market where it's illegal to use it?
Another portion of this bill will greatly effect people with disabilities:
38604. A person operating a recreational off-highway vehicle shall not
ride with a passenger, unless the passenger, while seated upright with his
or her back against the seatback with both feet flat on the floorboard, can
grasp the occupant handhold with the seatbelt and shoulder belt or safety
harness properly fastened.
Any person with dwarfism and/or amputated limbs will now be excluded from enjoying the state of California in an OHV, as described in the bill. There have been harnesses, specifically manufactured for OHVs, that will hold a person tightly in their seat, if properly fastened, in the event of a crash, even a rollover. People of limited stature or with disabilities can ride in complete safety and comfort with these harnesses installed, yet this bill will force them to have to reach the floor and a safety handle, which they will never be able to do. Therefore, you are telling them that they cannot ride.
Anyone with small children will now have to leave their children behind when they go for a ride because of this portion of the bill. Currently, it is possible for people to install a child safety seat, approved for all California motor vehicles, in order to take their children with them in an OHV. When the new bill you approved becomes a law on January 1, 2013, this will no longer be legal. Millions of families that enjoy outdoor activities that include using OHVs may stop vacationing in California because of this new bill. It may push tourism to neighboring states where the laws don't prevent families from spending time together. People may stop using their OHVs all together, lowering the annual income that our state parks and BLM managed lands bring in.
Off road enthusiasts believe in safety, especially when it comes to the safety of their families. But this bill was written without families in mind and doesn't allow for the safety measures in use already to be utilized any longer. Please, for the sake of all the OHV enthusiasts that live in the great state of California, rescind this bill. Rewrite it to ensure that all people, regardless of disabilities, can enjoy OHVs with the entire family. Don't let people feel that they just bought something that will be illegal and useless in 6 months, don't let jobs get cut, and don't let California lose out on the billions of dollars spent on the off road lifestyle.
Hoping for change,
(your name here)
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Have you ever ventured out of slinging shit in chit chat Fez?
