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OHV COMMISSION DISCARDS CRITICAL AUDIT

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OHV COMMISSION DISCARDS CRITICAL AUDIT

Postby Scott Hatch » Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:29 am

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Stewart, Director of Environmental Affairs,
United Four Wheel Drive Associations.
Phone: (619) 390-8747
FAX: (619) 390-1705
E-mail: john@muirnet.net
WebPage: http://www.ufwda.org

OHV COMMISSION DISCARDS CRITICAL AUDIT - VOTES TO SLASH FUNDS FOR
SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

LAKESIDE, CA (Dec. 16) - At their December 8-9, 2005 meeting, the
California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR)
Commission voted to eliminate funding for many conservation, safety,
and law enforcement programs. California regulations mandate that
funds collected from OHV registrations go for conservation,
education, law enforcement, public safety, trail maintenance, and
land acquisition programs operated by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau
of Land Management, and local sheriff departments.

John Stewart, Director of Environmental Affairs for the United Four
Wheel Drive Associations, said actions taken at the December
Commission meeting were identical to problems identified in an
extensive audit critical of the state OHV Program conducted by the
California Bureau of State Audits earlier this year. The Audit noted
that funds from the OHV Trust Fund were allocated without proper
assurance the grants would benefit the legislative intent of the
program.

Stewart noted, "The OHMVR Commission is blatantly continuing
irregularities identified in the Audit. There is no longer any
accountability."

Failure to fund important safety, education and law enforcement
programs shows the Commission no longer functions in accordance to
the California law establishing the statewide OHV program. Stewart
added, "The Commission is attempting to manage an OHV program for
special and personal interests and selfish ego." As defined by the
Legislature, the OHV Program was established to effectively manage
areas and provide adequate facilities for the use of off-highway
vehicles and conservation and enforcement are essential for
ecologically balanced recreation.

Earlier this year, a coalition of local, state, and national
recreation groups sent a letter to Senator Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside)
asking for legislative hearings by the Joint Legislative Audit
Committee based on a recent report by the Bureau of State Audits
critical of the OHMVR Program. That audit cited irregularities
within the grants program that were again evident during the recent
commission hearing.

The groups signing the September 8 letter to Senator Morrow include;
American Sand Association, Off-Road Business Association, San Diego
Off-Road Coalition, American Motorcyclist Association, American
Motorcyclist Association - District 36, American Motorcyclist
Association - District 37, BlueRibbon Coalition, California
Association of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs, California/Nevada Snowmobile
Association, California Off-Road Vehicle Association, Desert Vipers
Motorcycle Club, Duners, American Motorcyclist Association District
37 Dual Sport, and United Four Wheel Drive Associations.

# # # #


--
John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations, http://www.ufwda.org
Natural Resource Consultant
California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, http://www.ca4wdc.com
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor, http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network
User avatar
Scott Hatch
 
Posts: 13902
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:59 pm

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