8306-R2_MSA_March2023

From The Executive Board

LD-732 EXPLAINED “An Act to Prohibit Off-trail Operation of a Snowmobile in an Area Closed to Off-trail Operation”

H ello All,

Steering Committee

Below is a brief description and back his tory of the bill MSA has partnered with and been submitted by Senator Russell Black of District 5. This is clearly the first step of try ing to fend of trail closures by snowmobilers that clearly choose to deviate from the agreed upon path. We all have seen the cross trail trekking, hillside high marking, field short cutting and general disrespect of clubs’ efforts to channel trails in landowner agreed place ments. This bill is exclusively aimed at these events and has absolutely nothing to do with exploration on sled. The MSA encourages all riders to contact a club, guide service or groups advertising the exploration adventure for their options. Please encourage your club to sup port this bill as it has truly been asked for by the clubs that have lost trail. The landowner, the MSA clubs’ credibility and the future of snowmobiling in Maine relies heavily on this. This truly should be a win-win aimed squarely at educating rogue riders that our trail system is very fragile and non-compliance will not be tolerated. History of Snowmobiling

John Monk Chairman of Steering Committee moparmonk@gmail.com

and should not be on people’s land. A landowner’s expectation of what a club has proposed and what is witnessed by the landowner is in many cases not the agreement the club or the land owner agreed to. When a problem arises and currently, without the landowner going to court to explain this, it leaves no way to defend this agreement with riders that do not have permission to be anywhere other than the previously marked area. This is what needs to change. A landowner that respectfully allows trail, should not have to attend court with a rider that purposely deviates Going forward, the MSA would like to provide a new 3-pronged approach to address this issue. First up, a fresh new sign with very effective wording that is supported by the Warden Service shall be created. If this new sign is present, there is absolutely no excuse for not being on a marked trail and will be recognized as an immediate violation. Clubs will be able to share this new campaign on their website and may even be a city, town or system wide decision. Secondly, this additional sign will come with a very large public awareness campaign stating up front its intention by the MSA, IFW and Clubs that have supported this initiative. Thirdly, MSA wishes that this new infraction will carry the weight of a civil penalty with an immediate fine and hopefully even sled removal on multiple offences. This bill will prevent the landowner from having to log time in court just for providing the incredible gesture of allowing trail on their land. The alternative of no trail is currently where we are headed. This bill really should help encourage people to stay on the trail, provide our wardens with an enforceable offence, and most importantly, protect our landowners that allow this great sport to happen. The MSAwould strongly encourage each club to contact their representatives and senators and encourage them to get educated on this bill and support it. This truly has been driven by the clubs struggle to keep trail open and their landowners support. Please reach out anytime with questions. John Monk MSA Legislative Representative from a clearly marked trail. Our Envisioned Direction

Organized snowmobiling in Maine has been around now close to 55 years. In its infancy, snowmobile quantities from the late 60’s and early 70’s truly exploded. This volume of growth led to many issues of landowner concerns including places to go, noise levels, and access

to resources and are some of the very reasons the MSA was created in 1968. Our very for ward-looking forefathers at the time appreciated this new-found outdoor activity and quickly became aware and realized the system needed firm structure. It was significantly recognized that the land use may at some point become jeopardized. Many different attempts of trail access and acquisition have been established over time and the basics of clubs looking after their respective local areas were formed. Each club (town, county or project) would cover their respective areas and would keep their sections going and prevent “holes” in the system allowing connections anywhere the white would fall. In its most-simplest fashion, trail availability all boils down to the landowner having a conversation with a club member of “May our club establish a trail on your land”? This currently happens on a yearly basis and except for state-owned property, happens yearly on over 90% of Maines snowmobile trails. This is truly a great blessing and continues to this day. One incredible feat we are truly fortunate to has been the ability to roam and explore on snowmobile without the fact of truly illegally trespassing. This is not what this bill is about and additionally this is not fact for our neighboring ATV Community. While there are those that like to explore unchecked, the majority have chosen to respect landowner’s private property and follow clearly marked trail. The rogue snowmobiler that purposely and deliberately choses to dance around the prescribed trail markers are exactly the rider that needs this education, wrist slap and reprimand as most are clearly visible, enforceable and intentional. Ditch banging, trail gouging, berm attacking, landowner antagonizing and deliberate trail destruction without regard of the pass thru trail is the intended target for this bill. Our sign of “Please stay on marked trail” has turned a bit of a trail marker and not accomplishing its intended purpose from the mid 70’s. Please help the MSA fill this void for our continued improvement of the landowner agreements. Where we are today After the most recent pandemic, no one can begin to downplay the value of one’s property and land value of the newly recognized importance of being able to recreate. This significance fur ther stressed the relationships with clubs and landowner’s agreements of where people should

W ell, this season sure hasn’t been friendly to many of us in the Eastern Region. While some areas have gotten a good amount of snow, others have struggled to find freez ing temperatures and dodge water holes and open water. It is mid-February as I write this and temperatures this week are supposed to hit the 50’s at least two days and the 40’s the other days. Not much chance of making ice in those conditions. We can still hope for March, but the season is quickly winding down. I know, this sounds like a broken record from last month’s report! March means some clubs will be holding their last meeting of the season and electing new officers. I want to thank all the eastern region clubs for everything you have done this season

to keep your clubhouses open, trails cleared and sending in the memberships. I continue to say Eastern Region clubs- You are wonderful!! I have been able to meet with many clubs in the region this year which was great after not being able to for two years. This year’s Eastern region MSA monthly directors meeting was held in Lincoln in Feb ruary. It has been quite a few years since we have been there, so it was nice to be able to have them host. Thank you, Lincoln Snowhounds, for your hospitality! The annual MSA meeting will also be held in the Eastern Region at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer. We will come together to honor this year’s award recipients and re-cap the season. Come join fellow MSA members on April 29th

for a day of celebration. I would like to thank my regional directors: Gary Dowling, Paul Bolstridge, John Monk, Craig Lemieux, and Larry Lafland for their help this year handing out membership packets, keeping in touch with clubs and attending meetings. I would like to thank Barry Ryan for his assistance this year for distributing membership packets, attending meetings and getting the word out about the MSA scholarships. Also, a thank you to Ed Richards for distributing membership packets Downeast and getting us a place to hold the Downeast regional meeting. Until next time, enjoy the end of season riding safely! Eileen

Eastern Region VP

Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 L.andE.lafland525476@gmail.com

7

m o b

o w

0 2 3 l M a i n e S n

i l e

r

r c h 2

M a