----- Original Message -----
From: Kline, Sen. Adam
Cc: Houghton, Bryn
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 3:49 PM
Subject: RE: Possible NC: SB 5544
Dear Mr. Helgeson,
I signed on because I have been annoyed, endangered, and angered one too many times by people riding motorized dirt-bikes and other off-road vehicles that have no damn business anywhere. To me, this bill is narrow--it doesn't include those "personal watercraft," seemingly jet-powered little missiles whose only apparent purpose is to risk death and dismemberment for boaters and swimmers, for the amusement of spoiled drunk teenagers.
Yes, I am sure there is the occasional responsible person who rides one of these machines on land or water. And yes, like every human being I have been pleasantly surprized to find my stereotypes broken. But why, why, why, do folks insist on motorized "sports"? Those two words are an oxymoron. There is nothing sporting--athletic, physically demanding--about riding any machine anywhere. And it's a damned annoyance to folks who see the outdoors as a place to go for quiet and solitude and self-exploration. I would be happy to ban the use of the internal combustion engine off-road, by anyone without a handicapped sticker, subject to a stiff fine. Maybe we could call this an anti-obesity measure.
Please circulate this to all motorized sports enthusiasts, so they can remember never to vote for me.
Adam Kline
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 9:48 AM
To: Kline, Sen. Adam
Subject: Possible NC: SB 5544
SENATE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE
TO: Senator Adam Kline
FROM: Dave Helgeson (Possible Non-Constituent)
SUBJECT: SB 5544
MESSAGE:
Senator Kline,
I am curious to know why you would co-sponsor the most discriminatory, anti-OHV Bill ever proposed?
SB 5544changes would creating maximum sound levels for riding near any residence, regardless of where that residence is located or how it is zoned. It would become illegal for my Family to ride our motorcylces and quads where they are "plainly audible" from in or adjacent to any residence. This would even include residences that are on farm land, forest land or in an industrial area.
One of the few riding area riding areas where it is still legal to ride in Western Washington is Captial State Forest near Olympia. There are a few parcels of private property located within the forest. This law, if passed, would effectively shut this area down. Ditto for the nearby Straddle Line ORV park.
What really strikes me as absurd about this proposal is race tracks like Evergreen Speedway in Monroe could host auto races of all types, but any off road events would be illegal.
In addition, this law would only apply to my dirtbike or quad. It would not apply to other, more common sources of residential noise such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, stereos, playgrounds, ballfields, etc. It is just plain discrimination against Off Highway Vehicle use and has nothing to do with keeping neighborhoods quiet.
Off Highway Vehicle recreation is a fun and growing family sport, it would be nice to see sports that support families embraced by Olympia with more open riding areas, instead of discriminated against.
I would hope that you drop your support of this legislation.
NOTE: We could not determine that this constituent is in your district
RESPONSE REQUESTED: Dave has requested a response to this message.
For more information on this legislation:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5544&year=2007
