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Let’s Amend New York’s ATV Law to Increase Tourism in Upstate
New York’s tourism industry is alive and showing signs of growth. A recent study estimated that 239 million visitors traveled to New York state in 2016. These visitors had an estimated economic impact of $104.8 billion and $64.8 billion in direct spending. While the number of visitors and spending was up from 2015, the state can […]
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New York’s tourism industry is alive and showing signs of growth. A recent study estimated that 239 million visitors traveled to New York state in 2016. These visitors had an estimated economic impact of $104.8 billion and $64.8 billion in direct spending. While the number of visitors and spending was up from 2015, the state can do more to help increase tourism.
A simple way to draw more visitors to New York and particularly to upstate New York is to amend the state’s vehicle and traffic laws to allow side-by-side ATVs to be registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Side-by-sides are often used in farm operations, but are also growing in popularity for recreational use. Unlike a traditional ATV, a side-by-side, sometimes referred to as a utility task vehicle (UTV), enables the passenger to sit next to the driver rather than behind the driver. As a result, they are slightly heavier, more technologically advanced, and safer by some industry standards. To enable more riders to enjoy the scenic beauty and encourage more people to visit our local businesses, New York should raise the weight limit from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds to allow for side-by-sides on public trails. I sponsored legislation that would enact this change and bring the current weight limit up to date.
Unfortunately, the bill has stalled in the Assembly due to a general misconception that riders are uncaring about the environment when in fact many are conservationists who take rides to appreciate nature and the area’s scenic beauty. Opponents also claim the increase will cause erosion. There are ways, however, to prevent erosion and the state should use some of the ATV registration fees — an estimated $1.5 million a year — collected at the DMV to pay for general trail maintenance. In fact, for many years the state collected an additional fee from registered riders with the understanding that the fee would help pay for trail development and maintenance. Those trails, however, were never developed and riders lost out on a promised investment. The state should make good on that promise by finally creating the trails on state land, similar to the trail system created for snowmobilers. This would help make vast areas of land owned by the state accessible to the public. Instead, New York’s current policy is helping to drive visitors elsewhere and encouraging some of its own residents to go to other states.
Because of current policy, we are losing out on registration fees at the DMV and UTV owners are losing out on access to public trails. More importantly, local businesses are losing revenue that could be generated by more visitors on trails that are specifically designed and built to handle the off-road experience that all-terrain vehicles offer. Finally, this change in law would be more consistent with other state efforts to promote and increase tourism. ATV and snowmobile trails are promoted on the “I Love NY” website and through other local tourism outreach efforts, yet our laws are not consistent with some of the tourism messaging. It is time to update our laws that have not been changed since 1997 to be more in step with the changing vehicles in order to bring more people here to experience our area. Our region has incredible beauty and the ATV trails traverse through creek-side views and wooded terrain that can only be safely accessed with an off-road vehicle.
Anyone who owns an ATV must register the vehicle with the DMV even if the vehicle is only being used on the owner’s property. ATV dealers are required to register every ATV they sell to New York state residents before the buyer receives the vehicle. Certain exemptions do apply such as when the vehicles are used for agricultural purposes. To learn more about ATVs and current regulations, visit https://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/atvs-information-owners-and-operators.
William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.
DiMarco, Abiusi & Pascarella, CPA’s P.C.
TROY P. SEGAR has joined DiMarco, Abiusi & Pascarella, CPA’s P.C. as a principal. He is a CPA and a graduate of SUNY Oswego. Segar has a wide variety of specializations. JULIA BAILEY, ANDREW VANRIPER, and DANIELLE DANNHEIM have joined the firm as staff accountants. Bailey and VanRiper graduated from Le Moyne College and Dannheim from
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TROY P. SEGAR has joined DiMarco, Abiusi & Pascarella, CPA’s P.C. as a principal. He is a CPA and a graduate of SUNY Oswego. Segar has a wide variety of specializations. JULIA BAILEY, ANDREW VANRIPER, and DANIELLE DANNHEIM have joined the firm as staff accountants. Bailey and VanRiper graduated from Le Moyne College and Dannheim from SUNY Oswego. Bailey, VanRiper, and Dannheim previously served as interns and will work on tax and financial reporting for real-estate individuals and entities. ANARAY LOSURDO has joined as an administrative assistant. She is a liberal-arts degree candidate at Cayuga Community College, expecting a December 2018 graduation. Losurdo has previous experience as a secretary and in related administrative positions. KRISTIN SLAYTON has been promoted to firm administrator. She graduated from Bryant & Stratton and Cayuga Community Colleges. Slayton previously served as an administrative assistant at the firm.
Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC recently hired KAREN HOVEY as a principal in the tax department. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clarkson University and has more than 25 years of experience in audit, tax, and accounting services as a CPA and more than 14 years of experience as a certified fraud
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Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC recently hired KAREN HOVEY as a principal in the tax department. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clarkson University and has more than 25 years of experience in audit, tax, and accounting services as a CPA and more than 14 years of experience as a certified fraud examiner. Hovey previously was a principal at The Bonadio Group, based in Rochester, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Piaker & Lyons PC has hired STEPHEN GALLO, STEVEN PIERCE, and CHRISTOPHER PARSONS as staff accountants in its Binghamton office. MARYANNE MARTINECK has also been hired as a staff accountant in the firm’s Norwich office.
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Piaker & Lyons PC has hired STEPHEN GALLO, STEVEN PIERCE, and CHRISTOPHER PARSONS as staff accountants in its Binghamton office. MARYANNE MARTINECK has also been hired as a staff accountant in the firm’s Norwich office.
Fust Charles Chambers LLP has hired SAMANTHA R. APPLEBY as a tax associate. She is a 2017 graduate receiving her bachelor’s degree in professional accounting from Syracuse University. Appleby is currently working to complete the examination requirements to earn her CPA license.
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Fust Charles Chambers LLP has hired SAMANTHA R. APPLEBY as a tax associate. She is a 2017 graduate receiving her bachelor’s degree in professional accounting from Syracuse University. Appleby is currently working to complete the examination requirements to earn her CPA license.
KeyBank has promoted KAWANZA HUMPHREY to corporate responsibility officer for the banking company’s Rochester and Central New York markets. She most recently served as VP and area retail leader for KeyBank’s branches in the city of Buffalo. Humphrey joined Key in 2012 when the bank acquired part of HSBC’s branch network in upstate New York.
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KeyBank has promoted KAWANZA HUMPHREY to corporate responsibility officer for the banking company’s Rochester and Central New York markets. She most recently served as VP and area retail leader for KeyBank’s branches in the city of Buffalo. Humphrey joined Key in 2012 when the bank acquired part of HSBC’s branch network in upstate New York. Before starting her career in banking with HSBC in 2001, she was an account executive with both WGRZ-TV and WIVB-TV in Buffalo. Humphrey holds a bachelor’s degree in English/African American studies from the University of Buffalo and a master’s degree in executive leadership and change from Daemen College.
The Hayner Hoyt Corporation has promoted RICK HOWLEY and BILL NELSON to project superintendents. Howley joined Hayner Hoyt in 2006 as a carpenter and progressed to supervisor in 2010. He has experience in large-scale commercial, complex health care, and custom residential projects, having previously owned a custom homebuilding company. Nelson started at Hayner Hoyt as an
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The Hayner Hoyt Corporation has promoted RICK HOWLEY and BILL NELSON to project superintendents. Howley joined Hayner Hoyt in 2006 as a carpenter and progressed to supervisor in 2010. He has experience in large-scale commercial, complex health care, and custom residential projects, having previously owned a custom homebuilding company.
Nelson started at Hayner Hoyt as an intern in 2011 and has followed the path of project engineer, assistant superintendent, and ultimately superintendent. He has an associate degree in construction management from Morrisville State University and a bachelor’s degree in construction management from SUNY ESF. Nelson also holds the associate constructor designation and is a LEED green associate.
Tops Friendly Markets has promoted TREVOR KIRCH to store manager at the Tops in Hannibal. He was formerly assistant store manager at the Tops in Pulaski and has more than 11 years of experience in the retail industry. He began his career with P&C Foods. Kirch has held various positions over the years including dairy/frozen
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Tops Friendly Markets has promoted TREVOR KIRCH to store manager at the Tops in Hannibal. He was formerly assistant store manager at the Tops in Pulaski and has more than 11 years of experience in the retail industry. He began his career with P&C Foods. Kirch has held various positions over the years including dairy/frozen manager and customer operations manager. He holds an associate degree in business management from Mohawk Valley Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Institute of Technology.
JEFFREY M. JACOBS has joined Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York as VP and assistant general counsel and will be providing legal counsel and advice in all areas of company operations. Prior to joining Security Mutual, he was a partner in the law firm of Coughlin & Gerhart, L.L.P., where his career included
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JEFFREY M. JACOBS has joined Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York as VP and assistant general counsel and will be providing legal counsel and advice in all areas of company operations. Prior to joining Security Mutual, he was a partner in the law firm of Coughlin & Gerhart, L.L.P., where his career included a broad range of experience. Before entering private practice, Jacobs served as in-house counsel for information technology services and software companies. He is a member of the Broome County and New York State Bar Associations. Jacobs earned his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, and his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo.
Bousquet Holstein PLLC announced that COLLEEN M. GIBBONS has joined the firm’s Trusts and Estates practice group. She participated in the Bousquet Holstein law student associate program in 2016 and is a 2017 alumna of the Syracuse University College of Law, having completed curricular programs in disability law and policy and estate planning. Gibbons completed
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Bousquet Holstein PLLC announced that COLLEEN M. GIBBONS has joined the firm’s Trusts and Estates practice group. She participated in the Bousquet Holstein law student associate program in 2016 and is a 2017 alumna of the Syracuse University College of Law, having completed curricular programs in disability law and policy and estate planning. Gibbons completed her master’s degree and Ph.D. in human and community development at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and her bachelor’s degree in exceptional education at Buffalo State College. She taught elementary school in Oneida for five years.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.