A member recently reported that while cutting wood on his property, he was being observed by a drone.  He could see no drone operator, which clearly meant the visual line of site operation requirements were being ignored.  Not to mention that the drone was being operated over private property without the owner’s permission and clearly violating the owner’s privacy.

All of these offenses are violating Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Drone Laws not to mention our own Goodnow Flow Association By-Laws regarding privacy and disturbances (see below).

BYLAWS OF GOODNOW FLOW ASSOCIATION, INC.
Amended September 2, 2017

ARTICLE VII – ETHICAL and SANITATION GUIDELINES

Section 1 – Conduct All Lot Owners and their guest(s) shall conduct themselves in such a manner as to permit all other members, their families and their guest(s) to freely enjoy the benefits of the areas leased or owned by the Association. This shall include but not be limited to respecting the privacy rights of neighbors and curtailing disturbances from pets. 

When operating a drone please be sure to adhere to New York State and Federal Aviation Administration Laws as well as our By-Laws. 

 Violators can and will be prosecuted.

Penalties for Violating New York’s Drone Laws

When it comes down to penalties for violating these laws, they’re as real as it gets. Non-compliance could result in heavy fines, reaching up to thousands of dollars, or potentially even jail time.

Your actions can also result in civil penalties from individuals or organizations affected by any misconduct on your behalf, such as operating a drone that invades personal privacy or causes physical damage. Not abiding by the FAA guidelines may result in penalties at a federal level.

Bottom line? Stick to the laws closely, communicate effectively where necessary, and always ensure you’re adhering to ethical flying behavior. This ensures your drone-flying experience remains pleasurable while keeping New York’s skies safe for everyone.

All boaters operating any kind of motorized watercraft in the Adirondack Park and within ten miles of the Blue Line are required by law to possess certification that, before launching, their vessel has undergone measures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by following the Clean.Drain.Dry. standards described in NYS Regulation (6 NYCRR Part 576). These certificates can be acquired by visiting a DEC designated aquatic invasive species inspection station where boat stewards are present to inspect or decontaminate vessels and to provide boaters with a certification card. Alternately, boaters may perform Clean.Drain.Dry. steps themselves and then complete a self-issued certificate (PDF) which is to be printed and carried by boat users.  

• Clean any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting equipment. 

• Drain all water holding compartments including ballast tanks, live wells, and bilge areas. 

• Dry boats, trailers and all equipment before use in another waterbody. The most effective way to ensure that no invasive species or fish diseases are transported to a new body of water is to completely dry your boating and fishing equipment.

  NYS Boaters Guide to Cleaning, Drying, and Disinfecting Boating Equipment (PDF)

Learn more about this regulation on our Invasive Species Regulations page.

It is required that all Goodnow Flow Association members and their guests who operate ATVs on the Good now Flow lease display the current year’s Goodnow Flow Association sticker on their ATV(s). This requirement applies to ALL ATV’s regardless of engine size. 

All guest(s) must be accompanied by the member when using lease property. 

A person ten years of age but less than 16 years of age must have an ATV safety certificate approved by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles if he is to have the same rights as those operators sixteen years or over. A copy of this certificate must be sent to the Association along with proof of current Registration and proof of insurance to obtain the proper sticker. If a copy of the safety certificate is not registered with the Association, the operator must have the proper supervision to operate an ATV on the Lease property. To get a sticker to operate your vehicle on Goodnow Flow Property and its lease, proof of current Registration and proof of Insurance must be provided to the Association. 

To obtain your ATV(s) sticker(s), (you must be current with your dues) send copies of your Registration, proof of Insurance for each ATV and the safety certificate(s) to: Ed Banovic, 317 Brownell Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. If you know in advance that you will have guest(s) using ATV(s) on the lease, you should mail the same information to the same address, and you will receive a Goodnow Flow Association ATV Sticker good for one year for your guest(s). 

ATV stickers can also be obtained at the Flow from the Tom Rogers (Lot 233). 

You and your guest(s) must have copies of all required paperwork to obtain the ATV sticker(s) from the people at the Flow. 

Red “NO ATV” signs are currently posted on some trails that may be opened after water diversion is completed. However, some trails with these signs will never meet the criteria necessary for ATV use and will remain closed to ATV’s permanently. All of these trails are off limits to ATV’s. 

Small signs will appear on all approved ATV trails as designated by F&W Forestry Service. It is IMPERA TIVE that all members and their guests use ATV(s) only on these designated trails. F& W Forestry Service 1 takes this requirement very seriously and has added a provision to our lease that provides for fines up to $1,000 for violations. Off trail use violations can result in the banning of ATV use on our lease completely. ATV’s have already been banned on some of their properties due to violations. Please alert family members and guests of the need to use ATVs only on authorized trails. 

Anyone found by the Board of Directors to have violated any of the above provisions shall be liable for a fine not to exceed $250.00 for each occurrence or any other penalty as determined by the Board, unless the fine to the Goodnow Flow Association for such activity is in an amount that exceeds $250, in which case the amount of the fine shall equal the amount of the fine to the Goodnow Flow Association for the violation. 

The GFA Member is responsible for all family member(s) and guest(s) 

The only exception to the designated trails for ATV use is that an ATV can go off these trails to retrieve legally harvested game during the big game season only. No loaded weapons are allowed on the ATV or the individual(s) when retrieving these animals. 

All members can help maintain approved trails by staying out of wet areas in the spring or after heavy rains. Carrying a small camp shovel and ditching any ruts or standing water found on approved roads and trails will help dry these areas and keep them open for continued ATV use. 

Owners and guest(s) who operate “Gators, Mules, Rhinos, etc. must also display the current year Goodnow Flow sticker on their vehicles and adhere to all ATV Regulations. This sticker is the same one used on ATVs and Snowmobiles. 

All Speed Limits for Goodnow Flow roads and trails apply to ATVs. ATV stickers are required for riding on ALL authorized Goodnow Flow roads and trails. Speed limits on all paved roads are as posted by the Town of Newcomb. All other F & W Forestry roads and trails have a maximum speed limit of 20 mph. 

Remember to wear your helmet, have your current ATV Registration, current Insurance Card with you and your current GFA sticker displayed on your machine while operating your ATV on the Lease property. 

It is not New York State law but for safety reasons, the Association would like all operators of ATVs to have their head lights on during the day while riding on roads and trails around the Flow. 

When passing walkers, walkers with pets, joggers, bikers, etc., please slow down. 

No ATVs are allowed on the State Snowmobile Trails starting after the last day of the Big Game Hunting season and ending at the end of Snowmobile season or April 1st whichever comes latest. 

ATV’s with GFA stickers are allowed to use the periphery road around the lake year round. ATVs are NOT allowed to use other trails during the Snowmobile season. However, your cooperation to NOT drive wheeled vehicles of any kind on any unplowed roads during Snowmobile season is strongly requested. Wheeled vehi cles cause serious ruts and damage to snowmobile trails creating dangerous conditions for snowmobile oper ators in addition to the increased cost to the Association for the raking and grooming required to repair dam aged roads and snowmobile trails. 

Any questions can be directed to Ed Banovic or Bryon Geel, Recreation Committee Director.