Maine

The old question asks: “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” I’d venture it does, but I know one thing for certain — if a tree falls across a trail, that trail is blocked unless someone clears it.

Similarly, brushing back encroaching trail-side vegetation, clearing out water bars along steeper trails, repairing or replacing water crossings and other ongoing trail work doesn’t take care of itself.

Paid staff people are one piece of this trail puzzle, but volunteers are another essential element. Without volunteer efforts, many of our beloved trails would degrade to a point where they are no longer enjoyable, safe, or even environmentally benign.

A hearing on new regulations for off-highway vehicles drew a crowd to Shrewsbury High School last night that was heavy on enjoyment of recreational vehicular use of the outdoors and light on government regulation.

The folks overflowed the 150 seats provided, standing along walls, sitting on the floor, some of them children in shoulder-to-toe protective gear they wear while whizzing through the woods on dirt bikes or other off-road vehicles. It was a crowd aghast at some of the regulations placed in effect on an emergency basis March 24 to comply with a law that they said was an overreaction to the deaths of children on off-road vehicles, and they were not hesitant in telling that to the Massachusetts Environmental Police who conducted the hearing.

A working group will continue to tweak the emergency regulations, with a 90-day comment period expiring June 18.

While David Carlson of Webster said the government was supposed to be “for the people, by the people...” another man seemed to capture the flavor — and group applause — when he completed the quote with “to screw the people.”

The single most-voiced complaint was the regulation banning any child under age 10 from operating a snowmobile or recreational vehicle. Environmental Police Capt. Chris Baker repeatedly told the crowd that that has been the rule since 1987.

Officials warned ATV operators that they shouldn't ride on any trail until it's completely dry, and mud season signs have been removed.

The 85-mile-long Down East Sunrise Trail through Hancock and Washington counties opened over the weekend, and most trails will be open by Memorial Day.

Maine has about 6,200 miles of ATV trails, 95 percent of them on private land. The Bureau of Public Lands says ATV riding is increasing and the state wants to encourage it because of the positive impact of tourism on Maine's economy.

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Source: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/6de3e2054c4343d4b2e026bd57ce8dcd/ME--Maine-Mud/

WESTBROOK – With winter finally relenting, snowmobilers are putting their machines away for the season, yet the trails in Westbrook are anything but quiet.

Despite signs proclaiming them off-limits, off-road vehicles from bikes to trucks have already begun taking to the muddy trails anyway, causing damage and headaches for law enforcement, landowners and snowmobile enthusiasts.

Now, Westbrook police are attempting to rein in the problem, after receiving $4,500 in grant money to pay for extra man hours to patrol the city’s 32 miles of snowmobile trails, looking for all-terrain-vehicle drivers who, critics say, are causing damage, both to the landscape and relations with local landowners.

Rich Hewitt

Two people are in custody after they were arrested in separate police chases on Sunday afternoon.

According to dispatchers at the Bar Harbor Police Department, the first chase started at about 1:59 p.m. when Officer Eric McLaughlin observed William Delaittre, 19, of Bar Harbor, driving an ATV on Crooked Road. Delaittre allegedly refused to stop for the officer and a chase ensued. McLaughlin eventually stopped the ATV and arrested Delaittre. He was arrested and charged with eluding a police officer and also was issued a summons for violating conditions of release.

Nok-Noi Ricker

Two front teeth found at the scene of an ATV crash last June in Clifton linked an Eddington teenager to the collision that injured his female passenger, Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said Tuesday. 

Kyle R. Senter, 18, was indicted in July 2010 by the Penobscot County grand jury on a charges of failure to report an ATV accident with personal injury or death, operating an ATV to endanger, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and driving to endanger.

Tony Reaves

The issue of whether ATV riders have a right to use less than 500 yards of Parsons Road is contentious among the Board of Selectmen.

After the X-tra Mile ATV Club members left Monday night, the board revisited the issue when Selectman Jean Smart said the board should make it absolutely clear the club doesn't have permission to ride ATVs on the Parsons Road and East Oxford Road.

Jen Lynds

A St. Agatha man was indicted for manslaughter and other charges Wednesday in connection with an ATV accident that caused the death of his friend, according to Aroostook County District Attorney Todd Collins.

Police say Timmy J. Soucy, 26, was drunk and driving an ATV after his license had been revoked when the accident occurred on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2010.

Nick Sambides Jr.

Town leaders shelved proposed regulations restricting ATV use in Lincoln after a strong showing of all-terrain-vehicle enthusiasts during a Town Council meeting on Monday.

Councilors had tacitly approved of the proposed ordinance during their meeting on Feb. 14, offering no changes, but that support evaporated quickly in the face of about 50 residents, most of whom opposed the fledgling law.