Perdue signs bill to outlaw riding off-road vehicles in stream beds

Walter Jones

ATLANTA — Riding off-road vehicles in stream beds is going to be against the law in Georgia now that Gov. Sonny Perdue signed legislation Friday long sought by environmentalists, property owners and safety advocates.

House Bill 207 by Rep. Chuck Sims, R-Ambrose, received just 14 no votes in the House and only one in the Senate when it finally made it to the floor for passage. An undertaker by profession, Sims often told his colleagues he was motivated to push the bill because of the pain caused by fatal injuries from off-road-vehicle accidents involving children.

But fans of trail riding had fought the bill because it will curtain part of their experience.

It was one of 67 bills signed by the governor Friday.

HB 207, which takes effect immediately, prohibits motoring along stream beds, even if they are dried at the time. It does allow crossing stream beds and makes exceptions to law-enforcement and agricultural vehicles.

Satilla Riverkeeper Bill Miller said Perdue's signature on the bill is great news.

"It's been a long, uphill battle," Miller said. "A lot of people got on board the past year to push it through." The bill was championed several years ago by Gordon Rogers, the man Miller replaced and who is now the Flint Riverkeeper. Rogers at first said the bill was needed to protect the banks and river bottoms of the Satilla, the Ohoopee and streams like them where people cause erosion riding four wheelers. When that failed, Rogers and other supporters tried a new avenue, the protection of private property, one that Miller said drew more support.

"It's a big trespassing and liability issue for property owners," he said.

During periods of low flow, four-wheeler owners access the river at public boat ramps and bridges, ride the sand bars and shallow waters and then charge up the banks to trespass on private property, he said.

"The river corridor is just like a highway to them. It's amazing what people think their rights are," he said.

The new law will also protect the environment, he said.

"Once we start cutting trails, the water starts following those trails, and it increases erosion," he said of he damage.

Miller said he is hopeful that local law enforcement will keep watch on river access points to catch violators.

--

Source: http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/7587063/article-Perdue-signs-bill-to-outlaw-riding-off-road-vehicles-in-stream-beds-?instance=home_news_lead_story

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites