Concord, NH  [May 24, 2018] - As Memorial Day weekend nears, along with yesterday's opening day (May 23) for most Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) trails in New Hampshire, NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers are preparing aggressive enforcement initiatives geared towards safe and responsible riding. While OHRV enthusiasts eagerly await the opening of the trails, most of which are in Coös County, there are just as many people who dread the anticipated surge in activity. "Operating on property without landowner permission is by far the single biggest complaint received at Fish and Game concerning OHRVs," said Captain Dave Walsh who coordinates OHRV safety education and enforcement for the N.H. Fish and Game Department. "These landowner complaints are where we are going to target much of our enforcement efforts," said Walsh. Unlike hunting or hiking where the land has to be posted in order to keep people off, riders of motorized vehicles must have written landowner permission to operate regardless of whether the land is posted. OHRV clubs have designated and marked trails where the clubs have acquired the necessary landowner agreements.

After a long winter and with the good weather arriving, it is expected to be a busy weekend throughout the state for OHRVs. "With a field force of only thirty-seven Conservation Officers statewide it will be all hands on deck," said Walsh. Short staffing, due to a lack of new revenue sources that reach broader constituencies that benefit from Fish and Game's work, continues to hamper the agency's ability to be effective. "We currently have the same number of Conservation Officers patrolling the state that we did in 1953, when there were no OHRVs" Walsh explained, "and our population as well as our duties have more than tripled since the 50's!" In many communities, however, the Conservation Officers will not be the only law enforcement patrolling for OHRVs. Many local and county law enforcement agencies have realized in recent years that this is not just a Fish and Game problem. The influx of OHRVs in recent years due to expanded trail systems, which include portions of state highways and town roads mostly in Coös County, has caused a major strain on many law enforcement agencies. The increase in riding opportunities has brought an increase in traffic and complaints. In addition to operating off designated trails, noise (modified/illegal exhausts) and speed complaints are the most frequent.

Safe and responsible riding is not just what landowners want but it is what the OHRV clubs want as well. Clubs spend countless hours obtaining landowner permission, creating trails, and promoting their sport within their communities. The irresponsible riding of just one rogue rider on a given day can undo years of hard work performed by a club. In addition to aggressive enforcement, education is another way that Fish and Game attempts to alleviate the issues. Each year, F&G volunteer OHRV safety instructors educate some 1,000 students in OHRV safety. State law requires that all operators 12 years of age and over must possess either a valid Motor Vehicle Driver's License or must have successfully completed an approved OHRV Safety Education Class when operating off their own property. "We strongly recommend that all riders who purchase or rent OHRVs take a safety class to help reduce the risk of personal injury and property damage," said Captain Dave Walsh.

The planned enforcement initiatives extend year 'round. NHF&G continues to partner with the NH Department of Safety, Office of Highway Safety to address issues specific to the increase in on-road OHRV use to include impaired operators, illegal riding, investigate accidents, and related safety concerns. The bottom line is that this Memorial Day weekend Fish and Game Conservation Officers as well as local agencies will be out in force patrolling trails, private lands and roads across the state -- so ride safe and ride responsibly.

For information on OHRV clubs and trails go to: www.nhstateparks.org/Activities/atving/trail-information.aspx.



Posted 5/24/18