Syracuse.com - State lawmaker pushes for registration/use of utility terrain vehicles

[HuntingNY-News]

Four-wheeling is big business. The lawmakers pointed to recent statistics that showed, in New York's Tug Hill Region alone, the sport helps support 701 local jobs, and is responsible for $11.3 million in wages.

Republican state Sen. Patty Ritchie from St. Lawrence County is leading a bipartisan group of more than a dozen state lawmakers calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to join in supporting the use of side-by-side recreational vehicles, or "UTVs."

The vehicles, which look like an over-sized golf cart on steroids, have four-wheel drive. They are becoming increasingly popular with outdoorsmen - particularly elderly couples and families. They're built for two passengers (sometimes four) to ride side by side, as opposed to small ATVs that accommodate one rider.

Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie, said New York is "losing out on thousands of dollars of state revenue through registration fees, and taxes from the retail sale of UTVs, as well as countless tourism jobs." The problem, she said is "out-dated" weight limits concerning the vehicles.

Sarah Compo, who is director of communications for Ritchie, said UTVs did not exist when the current law governing all-terrain vehicles was put in place in 1997. At that time, the maximum sized vehicle that could be registered maxed out at 1,000 pounds.

The law essentially banned the use of UTVs on public lands and trails. However, they could be owned and driven on private property.

Ritchie and other lawmakers asking Cuomo to increase the maximum weight allowed to 1,500 pounds, which would encompass the larger UTVs..

ATVS, which have handlebars for steering and an open saddle, weigh about 600 pounds and up. UTVs, which have a steering wheel, weigh 1,100 pounds or more.

Nick Pudney, a salesman for Sport-Mann Suzuki Honda in North Syracuse, said early on there were concerns about UTVs and reports of their tendency to roll-over on uneven terrain.

Since then, he said, manufacturers have made a number of modifications to the vehicles. "They now have such safety features as a roll cage, doors, seat belts, netting to make sure passengers don't fall out, fully automatic transmissions and safety brakes," Pudney said.

He said they can reach speeds of up to 45 mph, while some ATVs can approach 70 mph.

"They're very useful. Two people can ride side by side. Some have small, pickup-truck like beds. Some have trail hitches," he said.

Pudney said ATVs cost anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000. UTVs start at about $10,900 and go up from there.

Ritchie and others want Cuomo to change the law concerning UTVs, allowing them to be registered and be used on public lands. They want him to do that by amending his executive budget.

Ritchie's letter is signed by Senator Ritchie (R-Heuvelton), Senator Joe Griffo (R-Oneida County) and Assemblyman Bill Magee (D-Madison County), who are sponsors of legislation to allow UTV use. Both of those bills have passed the Senate in prior years.

The letter also is signed by Senator Bill Larkin (R-Orange County), George Maziarz (R-Niagara County), Michael Ranzenhofer (R-Erie County) and Jim Seward (R-Otsego County); as well as Assembly Members Will Barclay (R-Pulaski), Ken Blankenbush (R-Black River), Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica), Clifford Crouch (R-Chenango County), Aileen Gunther (D-Orange County), Steve Hawley (R-Genesee County) and Claudia Tenney (R-Oneida County).

Four-wheeling is big business. The lawmakers pointed to recent statistics that showed, in New York's Tug Hill Region alone, the sport helps support 701 local jobs, and is responsible for $11.3 million in wages, and nearly $3 million in local sales, occupancy and other tax revenues.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog