January 21, 2010
by Craig Lyons
Berlin Daily Sun
GORHAM — Education is key to ensure the proper use of the snowmobile trail through the town of Gorham, according to local officials. Sergeant Brian Lamarre, of the Gorham Police Department, said both law enforcement and the snowmobile club are working to show riders the proper routes to use the trails.
He added that recently there have been a number of complaints about snowmobiles not using the proper trails, and some education could remedy many problems. “We just want to educate people,” said Lamarre. He added if people would learn and follow the rules there wouldn’t be many issues. The snowmobile trails and routes into town have been in place for nearly 15 years.
The town’s ordinances allow four access routes into the town off the snowmobile trail along the pipeline. The four routes into the downtown include Bellevue Street, Union Street, Church Street and Glen Road.
Many local businesses allow snowmobiles to park and then walk to their destination, he said. Lamarre said he’d rather see proper trail use being encouraged through education rather than achieving that goal through punishment. A summons for operating on a public way can lead to a $144 fi ne, said Lamarre.
He added anyone operating off the designated trail could be issued a summons. “A summons can be pretty hefty. Let’s educate people first,” said Lamarre. He said maps and information on the trails are available at the department or the officers also have information in the cruisers. By educating people, Lamarre said the trail would be used responsibly.
“All the trail access is a privilege,” said Ray Bergeron, of Motorcycle Snowmobile Service, in Gorham. “We’re really fortunate to have the privilege.” “A lot of people take it for granted,” he added. Many of the problems would be preventable if people were respectful, Bergeron added.
Bergeron said some new signs are being put up along the trails so riders know where to go. He added riders can’t go somewhere unless it’s signed. If people are being irresponsible on the trails, the landowner can take away the privilege to use their land as a trail.
Lamarre said the landowners, who allow the trail to connect to the downtown, could easily no longer allow their land to be used. He added so it’s in the interest of snowmobilers to respect the landowners and the trail’s guidelines.
Making the trails system work should be a joint effort, said Bergeron. He added it takes law enforcement officials, riders, community members and business owners to see the trails are being used properly. The trail system is designed to attract people into town, make them feel welcome and to accommodate pedestrians and other townspeople, said Lamarre. He said there is definitely a benefit to the town by having the snowmobilers come into town. He added they are eating at local restaurants, going to many shops and staying in local motels.
Bergeron said it would be great to see business owners do more to promote the trails since they could benefit from the riders coming into town. “The main thing is for everybody to work together,” said Lamarre. Lamarre said if people are having issues with snowmobiles, they should contact the police.
He added any information like a snowmobile’s description, license number or registration number would be helpful. “If someone is breaking the laws let us know,” said Lamarre. “And we can deal with it.”
Local officials said that proper education about the use of the snowmobiles trails into the town of Gorham is crucial to the trail’s success. Having been in place for nearly 15 years, the trail runs along the pipeline and connects to the downtown via Bellevue Street, Union Street, Church Street and the Glen Road..
(Map courtesy of the Gorham Police Department)