Pigeon River & Beyond - Back Country Horsemen, Michigan

Senate bill 496:  http://www.bchmi.org/sb496.htm

It can also be found on the legislation page.

April 30, 2009, Introduced by Senator VAN WOERKOM and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding sections 72121, 72122, and 72123.

Okay - here's a letter to the editor that I've prepared with some help.

I have not sent it to any newspapers.  You can also use parts of it to send to your Senator and all the senators on the Natural Resources Committee.  They are: Senator Birkholz; John Gleason; Bruce Patterson; Gerald VanWoerkom (who introduced this bill).  

To the editor:

Bridle Tag Fees for Non Existent trails?

The Department of Natural Resources is again showing total disregard for the 80,000 trail-riding equestrians in the state by backing legislation that would impose a bridle tag fee on riders 18 years or older who use trailways.

The legislation, SB 496, introduced by state Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom, R-Muskegon, comes on the heels of a state House hearing in Lansing during which an overflow crowd of riders provided testimony for the re-opening of miles of rustic trails closed by the DNR.

SB-496 would impose a fee on riders who have been banned from a majority of trails in the Pigeon River State Forest area. We would be forced to pay a bridle fee of $25 - annual, $60 - three-year permit or $5 for daily.

Ironically, the fees would be imposed on a rider in any of the 108 state parks. But a search of the DNR Web site reveals only two parks as having horse trails. Many miles of trails at Pigeon River have been reduced to dangerous county roads and 15 equine campgrounds have been closed.

If HB 4610, Right to Ride bill introduced by state Rep. Tim Moore and the subject of the April 28 Tourism Committee hearing is passed, miles of trails open to riders as recently as 2007 will again be accessible by horse enthusiasts, and a bridle fee might appear more logical, although unacceptable to trail riders since it appears to be targeting a single, non-motorized user group.

My question is, how will this be enforced and how much will it cost to enforce it? This would be in addition to park entry fees and, frequently, camping fees that we now pay.

The DNR conducted many town hall meetings in March and April this year. Is this what came out of those meetings with the public? To target one user group? If the equestrians must pay a fee to use trails; then why not those who hike and bike? Will those who use canoes and kayaks have to pay a fee to use Michigan waterways? Will those who use strollers and roller blades be next?

SB-496 calls for establishing a Equine Trailways Commission and a fund within the DNR. The legislation states that the commission may spend the money but it does not say what it will be spent on. The problem with this legislation is that it asks for money from a single user group that has the fewest trails.

Contact Van Woerkom at sengvanwoerkom@senate.michigan.gov or phone: (517) 373-1635 or fax: (517) 373-3300 Send mail to: P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536 and let him know this is NOT the answer. More info can be found at www.bchmi.org on how this $8 billion industry which generates more than $1 billion in taxable revenue annually, wants to create multi-user trails throughout the state.

More forum discussion on SB 496 at Michigan Votes:

http://www.michiganvotes.org/forum/forums/p/62740/274839.aspx

I've been thinkin about this a little and a  question has occured to me.  I wonder if anyone has thought about: whether the $25 is for a specific horse or a specific rider.  If my main squeeze (Brisco) gets hurt or something, will I be able to use another horse without purchasing another tag?

Gabz, you are right on with that letter.  We need answers, lots of answers!  Possibly a bridle tag would be tolerable if we gain something, but just setting up the funds, the committee, the enforcement and all that, further expands government.  Who wants to see government expanding and taking more of our $$$?  Who wants more government intrusion in our lives?

I'd much rather partner with the DNR and others to get the trails and the trailheads worked on and raise money from the horse community for improvements where desirable (with DNR approval).  I believe the MTRA has been doing this successfully.  Can't we do as they have done?  Am I making an sense?

Elaine