SB1100 Moves ahead in House Committees

The new bill in the Arizona Legislature that will refine Arizona’s definition of OHV is moving forward through House committees with the full support of House Republicans. The bill will increase the state’s threshold weight that defines an OHV from 2,500 lbs to 3,500 lbs. Arizona Backcountry Explorers is concerned that OHV regulations designed for UTVs will be applied to Jeeps and Pickup trucks that weigh under 3,500 lbs.

Increasing the weight limit will place OHV regulations on registered motor vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and other vehicles through bureaucratic policy decisions that are not consistent with state law. The Arizona State Parks and Trails, for example, uses inconsistent terminology when defining an OHV. They do not consider whether the vehicle was “manufactured primarily for use off improved roads” as clearly defined in state law. Instead, they determine whether the vehicle is “capable of traveling off improved roads”, which includes all vehicles under the state’s weight limit.

We have submitted a letter to the House Republicans urging them to consider an amendment that will explicitly exempt registered motor vehicles like Jeeps and purpose built recreation vehicles. Additionally, we are asking House Republicans to consider establishing a new class of OHVs specifically for electric UTVs.

Please send your comments

You can add your voice to ours by using the form below to send House Republicans an email. You can send our pre-written message, or you can write your own.

Comments on SB1100

This message is regarding SB1100

Hello and thank you for receiving my message.

My name is %first_name% %last_name%. I am emailing you today regarding SB1100.

My comments are in opposition to the proposed legislation in its current form. This comment is from the perspective of a lifelong motorized user and public figure among motorized public land users. My comments are not related to environmental concerns but rather the unintended consequences that will arise from this legislation.

This proposed weight increase has been a goal of radical environmental groups for many years and should be opposed by the Republican majority in the state legislature. The result of this increase will model what California has already done and will impose undue restrictions on public land users. Radical environmental groups and federal land managers want this increase so they can place motorized restrictions on the most popular vehicles used to access public lands. These vehicles include Jeeps, pickups, and custom and purpose built vehicles that are street legal in the state of Arizona.

There have been many falsehoods stated during testimony in the various Senate and House Committees. I wanted to take some time to clear up some confusion relating to motorized use of roads in Arizona and the unintended consequences of SB1100 that were not mentioned in any committee meeting.

These are not the only machines that access public lands in Arizona. There are tens of thousands of street legal Jeeps, SUVs, Pickup trucks and other vehicles that use the same roads. OHV regulations do not apply to these vehicles and they are not required to purchase an OHV sticker. It should stay that way.

In the state of Arizona, there are nearly 50,000 miles of roads on public lands. These roads range from highly technical roads that require four-wheel drive to roads that are accessible by passenger cars. Upon acquiring an OHV sticker, OHVs can travel all of these roads including highways, streets, forest roads, and BLM roads. They are not limited to any type of road. There are, however, roads which are limited by width, and which are reserved for use by OHVs, and prohibit use by SUVs and Jeeps.

Increasing the weight limit will place OHV regulations on registered motor vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and other vehicles through bureaucratic policy decisions that are not consistent with state law. The Arizona State Parks and Trails, for example, uses inconsistent terminology when defining an OHV. They do not consider whether the vehicle was manufactured primarily for use off improved roads as clearly defined in state law. Instead, they determine whether the vehicle is capable of traveling off improved roads, which includes all vehicles under the state weight limit.

This inconsistency will allow state and federal agencies to regulate all vehicles, including Jeeps and some pickups that weight under 3,500, with restrictions designed for UTVs. These restrictions, which prohibit the operation of OHV vehicles, will apply to Jeeps that are registered to travel on Arizona roads. I believe SB1100 in its current form is insufficient to make a clear distinction between an SUV and a UTV and will result in even more restrictions on public land use.

This idea plays right into the radical environmental agenda and will contribute to the tyrannical federal tyrade to close the Arizona people out of their public lands. It is the publics right to use existing roads without restrictions. Roads facilitate a fundamental right to locomotion, bolster economic growth, and since the beginning of time, have been used by the public for free speech communication, parading, commerce, and other activites protected by the First Amendment.

Likewise, since the beginning of time, it has been the states that protect these rights for its citizens.

I strongly urge you to consider an amendment to establish a new class of OHVs for electric vehicles under 3,500 lbs, and explicitly exempt SUVs, RVs, and pickup trucks from OHV laws and regulations.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message.

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