Summary
The bill amends the vehicle and traffic law by repealing the registration requirements for all terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Explanation
It is well known that ATVs cause considerable environmental degradation, including disturbance of wildlife, excessive noise, destruction of habitat, destruction of vegetative cover, and compaction and erosion of soil.  These problems are exacerbated when ATVs trespass on public or private lands in disregard of the rights of the property owner.  The issue of ATV trespass on agricultural land has become so prevalent that in 2005 legislation was enacted to increase the penalties for such behavior.

The registration of ATVs is vital to assisting law enforcement officials and property owners in the identification of the owner/operator of ATVs involved in vehicular trespass on public and private lands.  If enacted, this bill would hinder law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend the operators of ATVs that are trespassing and causing environmental damage, thereby increasingly the likelihood that incidents of trespass and environmental damage will continue unabated.

Registration of ATVs is essential to a successful enforcement program.

Environmental Advocates of New York opposes this bill.