Andrew Jones Gets Local Legislation Passed in Senate, is this Bill a Personal Vendetta or Simply Local Legislation?

It has been just under a year since Alabama State Senator for District 10 Andrew Jones attempted and failed to pass legislation which was designed by him to put Indian Mountain ATV Park in his home district of Cherokee County out of business. One might think that with his bill from last year failing to be brought up for a vote before the 2024 legislative session came to a close that Andy would have experienced a "come to Jesus" moment, realized the error of his big government ways and ended his campaign to destroy a small business in his neck of the woods. Instead of seeing the light, Andy resumed his relentless reign of terror over local entrepreneurs by introducing his new Senate Bill 234 which yet again seeks to shut down the Indian Mountain ATV Park in the current 2025 legislative session.

What exactly is motivating Jones to shut down the family friendly park remains a mystery as it is located on 5,000 acres of private property that is far from any adjacent neighbors. According to an economic impact study by Jacksonville State University, Indian Mountain ATV Park generates $15,000,000 in much needed revenue for the local economy which leaves many to wonder what exactly it is about private property rights that Senator Andy so vehemently disagrees with. Well, there is one blatantly obvious clue from Andy's failed 2024 legislative effort that could prove to be the missing piece to the puzzle.

Here is an April 2024 headline from a local news website in Cherokee County last year;

Cherokee County Commissioner for District 1 Randy Jones just so happens to be Senator Andy's daddy. So it is the Randy and Andy show all over again. You have Senator Andy passing legislation to give his father Commissioner Randy the authority to overregulate a small business to death. Could this possibly be a massive conflict of interest featuring a father-son government overreach tag team duo? Might be a matter of public interest worth looking into for a house member with a smattering of integrity, just sayin'.

Unfortunately, this time around Jones was successful in getting SB234 passed in the senate with an April Fool's Day vote. As is custom in both the Senate and House, senators and house members tend to shy away from voting against fellow lawmakers local legislation in keeping with the traditions of their body. Now the only potential obstacles standing in Andy's path of small business destruction is the Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee who if they vote to approve it the bill will then go to the house floor for a full vote only to ultimately be sent to the desk of Governor Ivey to be signed into law.

So what all does Andy's bill exactly say? Here are some choice excerpts.

Relating to Cherokee County; to provide for the permitting, inspection, and operation of off-road vehicle parks; and to provide fines for violations.

Section 1. This act shall apply only to Cherokee County.

Section 2. For the purposes of this act, the following terms have the following meanings:

PARK. Any privately-owned location that charges a fee to operate an off-road vehicle at the location and either hosts off-road vehicle races.

Section 3. (a) Commencing October 1, 2025, no person may operate a park unless the person has a valid permit from the county commission.

The county commission may not consider a park permit application before the proposed park has been inspected by the county license inspector or his or her designee. Following the inspection, the county license inspector or his or her designee shall certify to the commission whether the proposed park has satisfied the requirements of this section. If the proposed park satisfies the requirements, the commission shall approve the park. If the county license inspector determines that the proposed park is deficient in any regard, the inspector shall detail the deficiency to the commission and recommend that the application be denied. The inspector shall send a copy of any recommendation or deficiency report to the applicant.

The county commission may establish reasonable operating hours for parks.

Any law enforcement officer may issue a citation alleging a violation of any provision of this act.

The county commission may enjoin a person from operating a park by a civil action for the injunction brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the county.

Here are some of the key takeaways of what this legislation enacts;

• Gives the Cherokee County Commission licensure and regulatory authority over the Indian Mountain ATV Park.

• Empowers the Cherokee County Commission to micromanage a privately owned business by dictating their operating hours to them.

• Designates the "county license inspector or his or her designee" as a judge, jury and executioner in determining whether the park is granted a license or is denied. Going forward the Cherokee County Commission will have the authority to impose a $5,000 fine for any instance operating a park without the newly created license.

• Authorizes the county commission to penalize the park $500 for each instance of operating "outside of the hours established by the commission".

• Weaponizes the Alabama Forestry Commission by enlisting them as regulatory enforcers over the park who can be summoned by the Cherokee County Commission at will.

• Deputizes local law enforcement in issuing citations in pursuit of enforcing this act.

• Exempts municipally operated ATV Parks from the legislation to give them an unfair monopolistic advantage over privately owned competitors.

Does this sound like small business friendly, limited government to you? To an objective observer this could rightly be viewed as heavy handed growth of big government. And to what end? Senator Andy has made sure to insert himself into each and every public relations event with a photo opportunity to grow his clout in Montgomery. Yet, when it comes to SB234 Jones has kept an uncharacteristically low profile. Did any of the low information senators that voted for this piece of garbage local legislation even bother to read it or ask "hey Andy, what gives"?

Is it too much to ask for Senator Andy to explain his motivations on being so hell bent as to bring the full force of government down upon this small business that operates in his district? Would the senators that voted for it care to share their wisdom on why they would enable the destruction of a small business in Alabama? At this point the only hurdle for Senator Andy in his maniacal quest to shut down the Indian Mountain ATV Park is the consciences of the sitting members of the House County and Municipal Government Committee who will need to consider the legislation before sending it to the floor for a full vote. Is there anyone on that committee that will stand up for a small business in Alabama? How about the entire membership of the house, one legislator who might question the necessity and virtues of voting for this bill? Will Governor Kay Ivey think twice before she signs it into law with her rubber stamp signature?

Is there anyone in the state government of Alabama willing to stop a bad senator from doing evil things to good people? It is high time for a debate on who exactly this legislation is supposed to benefit and specifically who and what it is intended to destroy. Do our elected officials even talk about right and wrong before they vote any more or is it all simply predetermined by backroom double dealing?

Here are links to two Examiner articles from last year chronicling Andy's previous failed attempts to destroy the Indian Mountain ATV Park;

https://www.eaexaminer.com/post/state-senator-andrew-jones-attacks-atv-park-in-his-own-district

https://www.eaexaminer.com/post/senator-andy-doubles-down-in-ruthless-attack-on-small-business-in-his-district

As always, the bright spot is this whole deplorable mess has been the tireless true blue supporters of Indian Mountain ATV Park. They speak more truth about liberty in a single facebook post than Andy could ever conjure up in one of his contrived PR appearances that get passed off as "statesmanship".