Julie Walls is a woman with a mission.
Walls, from Davisburg but currently living with sister Lisa Flores in Lake Orion, had one of her worst nightmares come true on Memorial Day of this year, when her nine-year-old son Nicholas died in an Off Road Vehicle (ORV) accident, while riding a dirt bike on property in Brandon Township.
‘He started riding dirt bikes when he was five or six and he’d never had an accident before,? Walls said.
‘And he wasn’t on the property goofing off, there were 10 people there with them.?
Wall said her son was wearing a helmet and all the other appropriate safety equipment when he had his accident.
‘They were riding on the property, and there was part of a barbed wire fence that came out by a clearing,? she said.
‘They knew it was there, and (Nicholas) went to clear it, but somehow his judgement was off…He hit the last corner of the fence and that was all it took.?
Since that day, Walls has been on a crusade to get the State of Michigan to change the law regarding ORVs to require a driver be at least 12 years or older.
‘Currently, ORV riders just have to be supervised and have an Off Road Safety certificate,? she said.
‘I’d like to see an age requirement for dirt bikes…for ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) there is.?
According to Wall, the day of his accident, Nicholas was riding a new dirt bike, a Yamaha TT-R90.
‘When you purchase the bike, the dealer doesn’t tell you they have to be certified,? she said. ‘Nicholas wasn’t, because we didn’t know he had to be.?
Wall never really felt comfortable with her son riding dirt bikes, and wishes she had done something about it before the accident.
‘I never thought I could lose my son,? she said. ‘Riding dirt bikes was his thing with his dad, my ex-husband.?
Walls contacted State Representative John Stakoe of Highland Township to ask for help in getting the law changed.
‘I also wrote a letter to the ORV Advisory Committee of the parks and recreation department,? she said. ‘I’m trying to get support for legislation to get an age requirement for ORVs.?
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), 41 percent of ORV deaths occur in accidents where drivers are under the age of 16.
‘I think it should really be older than 12, but (Stakoe) said we should start there,? Walls said. ‘Even if Nicholas had had his certification, to a nine-year-old that isn’t going to make a difference.?
Walls said she thinks what the current ORV law requires is ‘a waste of time.?
‘I do think if they are going to ride, they should have some type of training,? she said. ‘But even if they are supervised, if they’re going 40 miles per hour and you’re standing there watching, you’re not going to stop an accident.
‘Small children don’t belong on ORVs,? Walls said.
Walls said she is considering starting a type of training/safety center for ORVs to help keep kids safe if they are going to ride.
‘I’ve been talking with the director of the recreation department in St. Clair Shores, he also lost his son in an ORV accident,? she said.
‘He said I’ve inspired him to get involved, even though his son’s accident was 15 years ago.?
Walls would also like to see the law changed regarding barbed wire fences.
‘I think barbed wire should come down,? she said. ‘It’s illegal to put it up now, but some of the fences that were already up have been grandfathered in. Barbed wire is supposed to be marked, but often it isn’t.?
Walls said she has gotten a lot of support from Stakoe who saw ORV accidents first hand as a Milford police officer.
‘He totally agreed with me, but he said it’s not something that’s easy to do,? she said. ‘He said I’d need a lot of support.?
In just two days, Walls, with the help of friends and family, was able to gather 450 signatures on a petition.
She is still circulating petitions, and must turn them in by Oct. 12, when the MDNR will stop taking public comment on the issue.
‘We’ve passed them around in Clarkston, Davisburg, Waterford, Rochester, Lake Orion and Ortonville,? she said. ‘A lot of people have asked if they could keep one and have me come pick it up.?
Walls said the more signatures she can collect, the better for her cause.
‘Mike and Beth Jordan of Ortonville Baptist Church are going to be circulating petitions there,? she said.
Walls has been attending the church’s grief care group, which the Jordans, who lost their daughter, helped organize.
‘You can call them at 3 a.m. if you want,? Walls said. ‘They meet twice a month, but you can call them 24/7. It’s helping me, talking to them, and we’ve become friends.?
Walls hopes to collect all of her petitions by Oct. 9, and hopes to see the state change the ORV law soon.
‘Nicholas was my only child,? she said. ‘I’d hate to see another parent go through what I’m going through.?