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2003 Snowmobile Rights & Responsibilities Act
Questions and Answers
June 25, 2003
- What is the reason for this bill?
This past season after the insurance crisis NYSSA's Legislative Committee started work on an Omnibus Bill that would cover a multitude of issues. The 2003 SRRA is the final product. Many snowmobilers felt we needed language that would make all snowmobilers responsible for their own actions and also to take into consideration the ever changing trail conditions, in other words inherent risk. This bill includes this. At the same time clubs have to become more responsible and this bill takes into consideration clubs are undermanned and under funded. This bill does not over burden the clubs with duties and responsibilities except to sign a trail as being open or closed and to mark the boundaries of the trail system. Later I will mention the increased funding that will enable the clubs to do this. The bill will raise the age limit from 10 to 14 years of age that a person can ride the trail system without a parent or guardian. Snowmobiles have evolved as such that a person under the age of 14 even with a youthful operator certificate should not be on the trail system without supervision. This bill requires all snowmobilers to have liability insurance. All the reasons mentioned above will make the sport safer and just as important insurance companies will realize this and be more willing to insure snowmobile clubs. Lastly the bill includes a fee increase, one that I will address below.
- Current Fees:
Currently fees for residents of New York State are: $25/year. $20 goes to the dedicated snowmobile fund. $5 goes to DMV. Non-residents pay $35/year with $30 going to the dedicated snowmobile fund and $5 to DMV. Up to 30% of the dedicated snowmobile fund is used by state agencies to maintain trails in state parks, administrative costs for the program and equipment purchase for state agencies. This 30% is dedicated by law to be used for snowmobiling. Using 170,000 registrations as the base, this year the 30% amounted to approximately $1.08 million. 70% amounts to $2.5 million. The budget as you all know is completed(not always passed) before the final tally is done and 2003-04 state budget includes about $2.25 million for The Trail Fund (clubs share) and the remainder $150,000 for local law enforcement. When you divide this by 9000 miles of funded trail the average payback is $250/mile. Clubs are expected to purchase insurance, build bridges, and buy equipment with this. Many clubs realize $250/mile is inadequate to properly maintain the trail system. After receiving input from various clubs and individuals the conclusion is the average cost/mile is approximately $600/mile which would allow clubs to keep their equipment updated and to purchase the necessary materials to maintain a first class trail system.
- Proposed Fee:
2 items are trying to be accomplished; one is to increase the amount of money in the dedicated trail fund and two to increase club membership. It has been determined a club member is a "safe rider". After much discussion on how to accomplish both these items it was decided to use a system already in place that has shown positive results. A year ago in New Hampshire a law was passed that resulted in a substantial discount in snowmobile fees for those who could prove they belonged to a snowmobile club. According to Gail Hanson, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association this past season brought many positive results. Clubs grew in membership and participation. It is estimated in NH that with this new policy 90% of all snowmobilers now belong to a club. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel it has been decided to copy NH's system of offering a discount to club members.
As mentioned earlier it is determined we need $600/mile to maintain our currently funded trails. This means clubs need $5.4 million to maintain trails. To do this it was determined a trail fee increase of $20 would bring us close to that amount. It still did not solve the problem of club membership and that is why the fee was raised to $75 ($80 if you add in the $5 DMV charge). A discount of $35/snowmobile is being offered to anyone who joins a club that is a member of NYSSA and contracts with a local sponsor to maintain state funded snowmobile trails. At this point in time after trying to encourage more club membership the consensus is money is the only motivator that will get more snowmobilers into clubs. The contention is a high percentage will take advantage of the discount and join a club. Lets assume every snowmobiler takes advantage of the discount and becomes a club member; 170,000 snowmobilers paying $45/sled comes to $7.65 million, $850,000 or $5/sled goes to DMV, 30% or $2.04 million goes to state agencies (dedicated to snowmobiling) and 70% or $4.61 goes to clubs and $150,000 goes to law enforcement. The question here is: what is the state going to do with $2.04 million? In years past, the state has reinvested any unused portions into the trail fund. (I have called OPRHP and asked them what they will do with this money and will pass along the information when I get it.) The use for the $4.61 million is easy; it will be used for trail maintenance, insurance and equipment basically the caps will just be raised to accommodate more dollars available.
- Club Dues:
Clubs are going to see their membership and revenue quintuple. Remember even though there are 170,000 sleds there are probably only 120,000 owners of sleds. This is 100,000 new club members paying on the average of $20 each for and additional influx of $2 million to the clubs. There is a cost to clubs for each member; clubs do mailings, $5 NYSSA dues/member, and even insurance policy assessments (I believe Northfield assessed each club member $9). I'll take the time to point out that NYSSA's insurance committee has made it clear to the insurance companies we are dealing with that club member assessment totally defeats the purpose of clubs and discourages clubs to increase membership. The bottom line here is even with clubs seeing increased membership the net income probably won't be that great. NYSSA will be stressing all clubs that participate in the trail fund program have a similar dues structure.
- NYSSA Dues:
NYSSA's revenues would be approximately $500,000 which is 5 times what it is now. NYSSA would also become one of the most powerful organizations in New York State because of our numbers and bring snowmobiling the attention it deserves from our legislators. We also have expenses that will increase such as our magazine and any mailings we do. More office help will be needed to deal with a membership of 100,000. A separate office location would be in order also. I don't imagine our net revenues will be much greater than they are now.
- Logistics:
Tools to process new members: 4 part form provided by NYSSA, time and commitment from the clubs.
Duties of Clubs:
- Clubs will have to agree to this process (Already gave approval without knowing the details at the 2003 Annual Meeting).
- Decide on similar dues structure.
Steps Involved:
- Snowmobiler receives renewal form in mail.
- Fee increase will be explained.
- Club list will be included along with NYSSA web address and phone number.
- Snowmobiler should have the choice of buying a club membership by mail or walk in.
- Snowmobiler joins club.
- Club will fill out form with pertinent information.
- Snowmobiler will receive 2 top parts of the form, one part will be used as a voucher when they send in renewal. For instance if the person owns 2 sleds the voucher will be good for a discount for each sled. The snowmobiler would write a check for $90 to register 2 sleds and complete the voucher and send the check, voucher, and renewal papers to DMV (or walk into a DMV office). This snowmobiler will have saved approximately $50 by joining a club.
- The second part will be retained by the snowmobiler and act as both NYSSA and club membership.
- Club will keep one part of form for their records.
- Club on a monthly basis or sooner will send in the last part of the form along with $5/member to NYSSA.
- NYSSA will record membership.
Dealers:
- Clubs will have to work with dealers in their respective areas.
- Leave dealers forms so new owners can purchase club membership at time of sale.
- Club would be responsible for picking up forms and sending NYSSA dues.
WHAT DID I LEAVE OUT?
Respectfully,
James P. Jennings, Executive Director
PO Box 612
Long Lake NY 12847-0612
Tel: 518-624-3849
Fax: 518-624-6741
jimjennings@direcway.com
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