PSSA Letter to the Governor
December 8, 2000

Governor Thomas J. Ridge
Room 255 
Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pa. 17120

Dear Governor: 

You have before you House Bill 1470 for consideration. Respectfully, I ask for your veto of this bill. 

As you know, I serve on the Greenways Partnership Commission and, that; the Commission has been developing an action plan for greenways and recreational trails in the Commonwealth. I believe several provisions of this legislation are counterproductive and could damage the successful implementation of the Action Plan as currently drafted. I have attached a copy of my comments on the Action Plan for your review. 

The most serious concern I have relates to the amendment being made to Section 7724(a)(1) of Title 75, as contained House Bill1470. This legislation would amend Section 7724(a)(1) and would require all individuals that ride a snowmobile or ATV on private property to obtained written consent from the owner prior to accessing the owners land. 

While I support and respect the need to obtain consent prior to accessing private property, I believe this provision is discriminatory on its face, in that, it imposes a more stringent standard on snowmobilers and atv riders than any other recreational user of private land resources. Bicyclists, hikers, birdwatchers, fisherman, hunters and others need only obtain the consent. This is not equitable.

As I point out in my comments regarding the Greenways Action Plan, Chapter 5, page 5-18, A Place for All People, I believe this amendment seriously jeopardizes the ability of the Commission from realizing the intent of the Initiative Overview, that being a network that provides resources for all types of recreation and equitable access for all types of users. I believe that equitable access is jeopardized by this provision. I also believe that this requirement will have a chilling effect on a landowners willingness to engage in public and private partnerships by making their land available for public recreation, particularly, motorized trail usage. In an attempt to provide protection to the landowner, you impose a burden on them. A burden they do not have to go through with other recreational activities.

In that I have other concerns with certain provisions of the bill that amend Chapter 77 of Title 75, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you regarding them. 


Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. I realize that these provisions may be eclipsed by the magnitude of others contained in the bill. Regardless of your action the legislation, I would ask your consideration of these concerns in the next session.

Thank you!

Respectfully,


G. Lowell Morton, President
Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association