South Down Rules

[Weirs guy]

Interesting question for you Skip. I believe SDS roads are not town maintained (jetskier and crew can correct me if I'm wrong) so my tax dollars "as a resident of the City of Laconia () but not SDS" do not pay for their maintenance. Now, do my tax dollars pay for the LPD to patrol SDS, or does SDS have to pay extra for patrols?

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Interesting question for you Skip. I believe SDS roads are not town maintained (jetskier and crew can correct me if I'm wrong) so my tax dollars "as a resident of the City of Laconia () but not SDS" do not pay for their maintenance. Now, do my tax dollars pay for the LPD to patrol SDS, or does SDS have to pay extra for patrols?

The SDS roads are definitely not maintained by the city of Laconia.

I'm pretty sure the streets are patrolled by the LPD without extra fees incurred, which would be the appropriate choice.

[nj2nh]

It doesn't matter what you are driving or even if you are actually driving it. If you are in a vehicle with the intent to drive the thing and are intoxicated, then you can be charged with DUI no matter the vehicle. Bicycles are included as a vehicle so I should think golf carts would be included.

Down here in Jersey, if a cop sees you come out of a bar, you appear to be intoxicated and get behind the wheel of a vehicle (any vehicle at all), he can can arrest you for DUI even if you never moved the vehicle.

nj2nh
(former county prosecutor)

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Interesting question for you Skip. I believe SDS roads are not town maintained (jetskier and crew can correct me if I'm wrong) so my tax dollars "as a resident of the City of Laconia () but not SDS" do not pay for their maintenance. Now, do my tax dollars pay for the LPD to patrol SDS, or does SDS have to pay extra for patrols?

If the board at SDS invites LPD in, then LPD can patrol the private roads in SDS, at taxpayers expense.

However, the LPD can only enforce Laconia ordinances and appropriate State laws. They have no authority to enforce the civil rules imposed upon the resident's of SDS by the board.

It happens all over the State at many other associations, campgrounds and private facilities...it is known as "showing the flag".

Only the board or its representative's can enforce civil penalties imposed upon SDS residents. If a SDS resident refuses to comply with the association ,then the association must use the civil process and bring that person before a court for enforcement. It is not a criminal matter unless the criminal code is violated.

Two very different sets of laws at play here. IMHO, the letter cited is intended to instill a little bit of "fear factor" into the residents, for whatever reason the board felt necessary.

[jetskier]

Originally Posted by Skip

If the board at SDS invites LPD in, then LPD can patrol the private roads in SDS, at taxpayers expense.

However, the LPD can only enforce Laconia ordinances and appropriate State laws. They have no authority to enforce the civil rules imposed upon the resident's of SDS by the board.

It happens all over the State at many other associations, campgrounds and private facilities...it is known as "showing the flag".

Only the board or its representative's can enforce civil penalties imposed upon SDS residents. If a SDS resident refuses to comply with the association ,then the association must use the civil process and bring that person before a court for enforcement. It is not a criminal matter unless the criminal code is violated.

Two very different sets of laws at play here. IMHO, the letter cited is intended to instill a little bit of "fear factor" into the residents, for whatever reason the board felt necessary.

Dues to South Down Recreation pay for maintaining the common roads (ex: Outerbridge Drive) and each association levies dues that cover their roads. Laconia does not pay for any of the roads as they are private and public access is not allowed. South Down does invite the Laconia Police in to patrol and they do so fairly regularly.

The interesting part is that there are some killer speed dips that will take out your suspension if you go over them too fast (or don't have ground clearance). It is really pretty self limiting. Of course inebriated driving is a bit of a different matter; I have not seen that at all in the development.

I looked at the flyer and the statement regarding Snowmobiles is that you can not cross private property to get to the trails. That would seem to make sense. In general, there is direct access to the trails from the trailer parking. Of course, most of the trailers (mine included) were completely buried this year.

Jetskier

[Skip]

Originally Posted by jetskier

...I looked at the flyer and the statement regarding Snowmobiles is that you can not cross private property to get to the trails. That would seem to make sense...

In this case the rule is just reiterating State law. It is against the law for any snowmobiler to cross private property unless that snowmobiler has written permission of the property owner, or the property in question is part of a recognized trail system.

So even in a private development, you would still need written permission or be on a recognized trail sanctioned by SDS to operate your sled legally across properties within the development.