What can I do ?
1) Support or Join the LIORV

2) Attend Task Force and LIORV Meetings

3) Call or Write - If you cannot attend the meetings, please take a few minutes, call or write your local legislator and let them know you support Legal Off Road Riding on Long Island.

4) Ride Responsibly and respect your surroundings

Reference:
List of Suffolk County Legislators
Map of Legislative Districts
Suffolk County's Task Force Announcement page - Click Here
Resolution number 322-2004 - Click Here

Wednesday, May 18th, 2005 - 5pm

The Forth in a year-long series of All Terrain Vehicle Task Force meetings and public hearings.

More than 50 all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts crowded the Maxine Postal Auditorium in the Evan K. Griffing County Center in Riverhead for the second public hearing to voice their opinions to the ATV Task Force.

Suffolk Life Newspapers - Riverhead, NY,USA - May 25, 2005
By James Montalto

The task force, led by Commissioner Ron Foley, invited public officials to precede the public comment period. Marguerite Wolffsohn, director of the East Hampton Town Planning Department, said that the East Hampton Police have had run-ins with nine ATV enthusiasts, usually “young people under 18,” she said.
Wolffsohn mentioned a few parcels that have been acquired for active recreation in the town, but stated that “they are not suitable for ATVs.” Referring to forest fragmentation, which is anything that “splits up a trail” as a problem, she said, “I doubt there is a place in East Hampton.”
Brian Paternoster, owner of Honda of Riverhead, told the task force that an ATV park in Suffolk County would help the business and increase sales taxes for the county. “Last year, ATVs took in $300,000 in sales tax,” said Paternoster. “These riders are not kids. Most of them are looking for a family environment to bring their children to enjoy the sport. We don’t have lunatics riding around.”
ATV Task Force member Christopher Jeffreys, representing the county attorney’s office, is worried about liability for the county. Paternoster mentioned ATV safety courses that can be administered to first-time buyers, similar to the ones required by Polaris, a brand of ATVs.
“You are referring to a consent decree that took effect in 1998. People are still getting hurt,” said Jeffreys, citing statistics from 2003 in which 188.4 out of 10,000 riders were injured. Paternoster countered by saying that those statistics do not show the true story. “How many of those injuries were in a controlled environment?” he said. “How many had helmets on and were in a controlled environment?”
Jeffreys stated that how “smart or unsmart” a rider is, is not a defense in New York State. “With 1% liability, the county could be held responsible for 100% of the injuries.”
Tom Riker of the Long Island Off-Road Vehicle Association emphatically stated that those numbers do not tell the whole story. Referring to 20 incidents over a span of 10 years — four of which involved three-wheelers, two that involved three people on a quad and the others, which were infractions of improper use or alcohol-related incidents — Riker said that those who follow the rules are not usually involved in these types of accidents.
Public Comments
Joseph Scotto, an ATV enthusiast from Massapequa Park, recently purchased a Polaris quad with the requirement to take a training class. “It’s mandated. It’s not a ‘nod, nod, wink, wink’ type of class,” he said.
Addressing Jeffreys of the ATV Task Force, Scotto said that “figures lie and liars figure,” referring to the lack of proper safety gear and the use of alcohol as possible reasons for the number of ATV accidents.
“We know there’s a need — liability is the issue,” said Scotto, comparing ATV enthusiasts to those who like to ski. People enjoy “going down an icy slope with two pieces of fiberglass attached to their feet — it’s absurd,” he said to laughs and applause. “We know there is a need.”
Halvor Foss, a rider from Yaphank, suggested that the American Motorcycle Association sponsor a one-day event in Suffolk County, which will allow the county not to be held responsible because the AMA sanctions approximately 200 such events per year, according to Bob Ott, ATV Task Force member and AMA representative. It would be “a one-day event that will show legislators and the news media that it’s a safe sport and not made up of 16-year-old kids doing 90 on one wheel,” he said to applause. Ott said that is certainly something the task force and the AMA can look into.
Jose Hofer of Selden, who attended the meeting with his son, Zack, wanted to move past dangers of the sport. “My son gets hurt more playing football, baseball, basketball and hockey,” he said. “We’ve been over the environmental impact too. If we wanted to build a golf course, we would clear 50 acres of land, including a ‘19th hole,’ so golfers could get drunk and drive home afterwards.”
“Let’s stop beating a dead horse and get something done,” said Hofer. Foley said that there are people who are curious to find out if there is proof of no damage to property from ATVs, because “people want scientific proof.”
George Fernandez, member of the ATV Task Force and an environmentalist, said that the environmental impact is an important part of the dilemma, but that environmentalists want ATV enthusiasts to have a place to ride. “Believe me, we’ll work through it and get it done,” he said to applause from the crowd.
Lieutenant John McGann of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office said that there are three subcommittees actively working behind the scenes. “We are searching for a piece of land,” he said. “You don’t see what’s going on, but we are working hard.”
Trevor Hubbard of East Northport said that ATVs don’t have the same impact on the environment as shopping centers. “ATVs don’t stop the regrowth process, but malls, stores and concrete buildings do,” said Hubbard. “Some of the places that I used to ride on years ago are now stores.”
Brian Schulman of Rocky Point agreed with Hubbard. “Almost every place that I’ve ridden is gone,” said Schulman, as he echoed the sentiments of nearly every rider in the building. “I’ll ride in a dump — give me a trail.”

Wednesday, April 20th, 2005 - 12pm

The third meeting of the ATV Task Force took place Wednesday, April 20th, 2005 - 12pm in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium located in the William H. Rogers Building in Smithtown, NY. This meeting was considered a working meeting.

The third in a year-long series of All Terrain Vehicle Task Force meetings and public hearings took place on April 20 at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge.

Suffolk Life Newspapers - Riverhead, NY,USA - April 20, 2005
By James Montalto

The reason for this meeting, according to Ron Foley, commissioner of the ATV Task Force, is to update the full task force on subcommittee meetings. There are three subcommittees, consisting of members of the task force: the needs, feasibility and enforcement subcommittees.

According to Bob Ott of the Needs Subcommittee, “The needs document is nearly 80% complete.” It will consist of the history of ATV use on Long Island, legislative topics, sales and registration trends and environmental statistics.
Feasibility Subcommittee
The feasibility committee has been searching for a site that meets the criteria for an ATV facility. According to Tom Casey, the feasibility committee looked at a total of 56 parcels and narrowed it down to 10 sites that could make a good ATV Park and 12 more that are second tier options. However, according to Casey, the sites were only evaluated based on the physical aspects, “irreverent of ownership.”
Foley asked the feasibility committee if a design and description has been discussed. Tom Riker, a member of the Long Island Off Road Vehicle Association, said a design and layout will be discussed in the future but “we have to first decide how big the parcel will be.”

The ATV Task Force decided not to make the 10 properties part of the public record just yet, citing the undue problems it could cause those in the surrounding areas. The task force noted that they will invite town planning representatives to discuss the possible use of these locations in the future, Foley said.
Enforcement Subcommittee

At the subcommittee meeting, Lieutenant John McGann of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office recommended mandatory registration of ATVs, seizure of unregistered ATVs and an increase in fines for riding in county parks and in weather emergencies, “particularly snow,” said Casey.

Chris Jeffreys, a representative of the county attorney’s office, said that the county cannot require mandatory registration, which is the state’s responsibility, but it could require dealers to sell to registered users only.
McGann suggested that a unit be formed, comprised of one representative from each law enforcement entity, including the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Park Rangers and the Suffolk County Sheriffs to coordinate action against illegal ATV use.
Foley asked that first drafts from each subcommittee be completed by the next meeting, which will be a public hearing that will take place at the Riverhead County Center on May 18.

Deborah Grundstrom from Ridge, the only member of the public to speak at this meeting, is an avid ATV enthusiast who would love a place to ride on Long Island. “I am a mother and a grandmother and to pack everybody up to go out of town to ride is hard,” she said. She added her family rides approximately 10 times per year and would probably ride more if there was an ATV Park in Suffolk County.

Wednesday, Mar16th, 2005 - 1:30-4:00pm

The second public meeting of the ATV Task Force took place Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at 1:30 pm in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium located in the William H. Rogers Building in Smithtown, NY.

ATV Forum Raises Questions, Concerns
County Seeks Possible ATV Park Site...
Suffolk Life Newspapers - Riverhead,NY,USA - March 23, 2005
By James Montalto

The county of Suffolk seems like it is moving toward supporting an All-Terrain Vehicle park for ATV enthusiasts, said Tom Riker of the Long Island Off-Road Vehicle Association. The ATV task force had their second meeting, the first public forum in a series of eight, at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge on March 16.

ATV riders feel that the construction of an ATV park would significantly decrease illegal riding. Doug DiLillo, of Huntington Station, a dirt bike rider since the 1970s who now rides ATVs with his son, is not an advocate of illegal riding. “I don’t want to demonstrate that type of recklessness and lawlessness to my son,” he said.
Legislator Daniel Losquadro (R-Miller Place) concurred, stating, “If there is a public area for riders, there would have to be a zero tolerance law in effect. If a rider decides to run from the police, it becomes a dangerous situation for both the rider and the police officer.”

Michael Cain, vice chairman of the Community Concerns Committee for the Whispering Pines Condominiums attended the public forum to address quality of life issues in his Yaphank neighborhood. “Enforcement is not the solution. First of all, there is too much ground for the police to cover and it can become very dangerous if a rider decides to run from the police,” Cain said. As a result of the noise concerns and issues at hand, “I totally endorse a public facility for ATV riders,” he added.

Lieutenant John McGann of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office explained to the task force and the public in attendance that the police have a “no pursuit policy.” “It’s a danger to officers and to riders,” he said, adding that last year the law enforcement council seized more than 400 ATVs. “We don’t pursue them, but we do what we can.”
“If and when a legal area is established, law enforcement should confiscate the vehicle as a stiffer fine for illegal riders,” Cain said.
The current penalties are not a deterrent to illegal riders, according to McGann. “When we raised the fines from $250 to $500, it didn’t slow anyone down,” he added.

Environmental Concerns
Ken Kindler, an environmentalist representing Hiking Long Island is heavily in favor of a park for ATV riders. “My main issue is that I care deeply about open space and the environment,” said Kindler. He said that he is encouraged about hearing the effort to reduce illegal riding but believes that something should be done to save the environment.

“I walk through many miles of trails every week and I see what happens to the environment and how cold-blooded animals such as turtles, frogs and snakes get killed by ATVs,” Kindler said. Although he understands the adrenaline rush and the thrill that ATV riders enjoy, comparing it to his love for swimming, he feels that people are destroying natural resources paid for by taxpayers. “I like to swim, but while I’m swimming I have to worry about jet skis. It seems like wherever I go I am attacked by motorized vehicles,” he added.

ATV task force member Tom Casey agreed with Kindler, stating, “Once the top layer of soil is broken, the subsoils don’t have the ability to heal themselves.” However, Marc Halpern, a former member of the Long Island Sports Committee, a predecessor to the LIORVA, disagreed, saying, “In fact, hoofprints do more damage to soil than a dirt bike or an ATV, which aerate the soil.”

Site Selection
A feasibility sub-committee meeting met on March 3 to discuss the issues of size for an ATV park, location and proximity to neighboring communities, among other things. At the meeting, Casey brought up the issue of whether a 1,000-acre parcel of land on Long Island was feasible. The group came to an agreement that it was unlikely, but would consider parcels 50-acres and up.

Christopher Jeffreys of the ATV task force, a representative of the county attorney’s office, asked if riders would get tired of riding the same 50-acre parcel again and again. Doug DiLillo assured the task force that riders would not become bored with a 50-acre parcel. “In fact, it could become a boom to the economy, creating a tourism opportunity for families,” he said, adding that he spends approximately 15 weekends off of Long Island per year traveling to ATV parks in Maryland and upstate New York. “That’s approximately [$3,000], [$4,000] or $5,000 that I spend off the Island that I would rather spend here.”
The subcommittee has come to the conclusion that a privately owned parcel is better than county land, according to Casey.

Riker raised the issue of why the Calverton/Grumman parcel is never included on a map of potential park sites. “Calverton is a suitable area for our use. It seems like there is always a grander scheme for that piece of land. First it was going to be a hotel, then a golf course and next they will say it’s going to be used as a runway,” he said. Riker inquired as to how the ATV task force can approach the town of Riverhead for the possibility of using this land.
Jeffreys stated that “it is not within the jurisdiction of Suffolk County, despite it being in Suffolk.” He further added that the task force would have to contact a Riverhead planning board member in order to discuss the possibility of using that parcel.

The next meeting of the ATV task force will be held on April 20 at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building in Hauppauge.

Wednesday, Feb16th, 2005 - 1:30-4:00pm

The first public meeting of the ATV Task Force took place Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 1:30 pm in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium located in the William H. Rogers Building in Smithtown, NY.

The following summary provided by Rich Pelkowski.

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12 members of the Task Force were present:

Ronald Foley - Parks Commissioner
LT John McGann - Suffolk Sheriff’s Dept.
Frank Dowling - Suffolk Planning Board
Jill Moss - Suffolk County Office of Budget Review
Christopher Jeffreys - Suffolk County Attorney
Jay Schneiderman – Suffolk County Legislature
George Fernandez – Greenbelt Conference (Not present)
Tom Casey - Greenbelt Conference (substitute)
Alpa Tandy - Nature conservancy
Tom Riker – LIORV Representative
Bob Ott – AMA Representative
John Savio - NYSORVA Representative
Cyla Allison - Nassau Suffolk Horseman’s Assoc.

The bulk of the minutes and business of this first meeting of the Task Force were to clarify, and agree upon the intent and scope of resolution 322-2004. The resolution is titled “ESTABLISHING TASK FORCE TO STUDY NEED FOR ATV PARK AND TO REDUCE ILLEGAL ATV USE IN SUFFOLK COUNTY”. And it would appear that the first meeting of the Task Force was indeed very successful in accomplishing this first important step.

Some initial discussion of the Task Force members in attendance did in fact center on the intent of the resolution. Specifically, whether the actual intent of the resolution was to only determine the need for an ATV park, or to also consider specific properties. Certain members of the Task Force appeared to be misinterpreting the title, wording and intent of 322-2004, stating that they felt the intent was only to determine if the need existed for an ATV park. Legislator Jay Schneiderman successfully argued that the wording, intent and previous discussion of the Legislative body that originally passed the resolution was to suggest possible locations for such an ATV park. LT. John McGann of the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department also agreed, in that his interpretation of 322-2004 was that it went beyond the mere question of need, and agreed that at least part of the intent of 322-2004 was make recommendation to the Legislature regarding specific properties and locations. LT. John McGann also stressed that while existing enforcement measures are already quite severe, they are not having the desired effect of curbing illegal ATV operation.

The chairman, Parks Commissioner Foley, additionally outlined the schedule for the remaining meetings that will be held on a monthly basis, excepting two months occurring this summer. The regular monthly business meetings will alternate with bi-monthly public comment hearings. He further assigned specific research tasks to various members of the Task Force in anticipation of business to take place at the next meeting in March 2005. The Task Force will expire in December 2005, at which time it will formally make recommendation and report to the entire Suffolk County Legislative Body.

Several members of the public did take advantage of making comment to the Task Force. All persons who spoke were strongly in favor of establishment of an ATV park in Suffolk County.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m. after 2.5 hours of business without recess or break.