According to MyNews3.com, "Nevada will now require off-roaders to register and title their toys. State lawmakers say we've failed to capitalize on a sport that has some serious traction." Read more: http://bit.ly/HNJqZX
Watch and read the personal stories of Westerners who have been directly affected by the activities of reckless ORV riders and why they think visible identification and stricter penalties will help curb this growing problem.
- Frank Adams, 40-year veteran of law enforcement and former Executive Director of the Nevada Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association - Dale Bosworth, former chief of the U.S. Forest Service - Sage Dorsey, Central Oregon rancher - Jack Duggan, Vietnam veteran and fourth-generation tree farmer in Oregon - Bill Sustrich, life member of the Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - Derrick Reeves, co-chair of Idaho Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - Shannon Raborn, director of Responsible Trailers America and Colorado outdoor enthusiast - Ambers Thornburgh, second-generation rancher near Redmond, Oregon. Ambers also penned an op-ed in The Oregonian, "Trespassing by ATV: We need to protect ranching and recreation" -Jeanne Marie Olmo, property owner and Andrew Fulks (Director of the U.C. Davis Putah Creek Riparian Reserve), Rich Marovich (Streamkeeper for the Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee, Solano County Water Agency) and Libby Earthman from Putah Creek Councl
Idaho: Reckless ORV Riders to Pay to Restore Damage they Caused in Popular Recreation Area
“When we see illegal ATV use like this, we want to both help users understand the environmental damage caused by their actions and correct the behavior,” said Steve Bryant, Law Enforcement Officer for the Palouse Ranger District. “Then we turn to restoring function on the damaged land. In this case, the perpetrators’ actions were so egregious they were required to pay substantial fines, providing the agency with the means to begin restoration work.” Click here to read the story from KLEW in Lewiston, ID.
Montana: Man Convicted of Cutting Illegal ORV Trail Required to Pay Restitution
A Montana man convicted of building an illegal ORV trail in Gallatin National Forest was required to pay $25,000 in restitution. USFS officials estimated it would cost $7,600 to dispose of downed trees and $25,948 to restore the land and prevent erosion. Read the full story at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. According to Ron Archuleta, Livingston District Ranger, “These types of illegal trails are not uncommon on National Forest System lands. They are usually located in the worst possible sites causing erosion and weed infestations.”
Award Winning Local News Catches Off-roaders Trespassing on Rancher’s Property
A Bakersfield, CA news station caught off-roaders illegally riding on the property of ranchers Jeremy and Brandie Dunn. Below, you can see the damage they’ve done to the Dunns’ property and watch Brandie’s encounter with an off-roader trespassing on her property. Note: This article was given an Associated Press Mark Twain Award for Investigative Reporting. Read the whole story here.
BHA’s ATV Abuse Reporting Reward Program
Listen to Conservation Director, Holly Endersby, in a radio interview on Northwestern Outdoors Radio concerning BHA's ATV Abuse Reward Program. Listen here.
9 out of 10 Sportsmen Agree: Tougher Penalties for Illegal ORV Riding
A survey conducted by Eastmans’ Hunting Journal found that nearly 94% of sportsmen support tougher penalties for ORV riders that illegally ride in closed areas. The most common response was also the most severe – nearly 38% of respondents believe ORVs should be confiscated in addition to loss of hunting privileges for a year. Read the entire poll results along with candid quotes from sportsmen here.
GAO Recommends Examining Penalty Structures for Reckless Riding on Public Lands
The investigative arm of Congress found widespread habitat damage from reckless riding, mounting enforcement challenges and evidence of conflicts with other users. The GAO recommended examining current penalty structures, as well as implementing better planning at BLM and USFS, and enhancing communication with the public though user-friendly maps and trail signs. To view the full report, please click here.
Public Land Users Are Hurt By Inconsistent Penalty Structures
A June 2009 study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicated that the method for establishing fine schedules resulted in widely varied fines across the country, making it difficult to educate ORV riders and other recreationists about the consequences of illegal behavior. The study recommended that the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior direct U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to examine fine amounts across various U.S. district courts to determine the range of fines for ORV-related violations.
A report from RTA attempts to do just that. The paper details RTA's findings, shares anecdotal evidence of the problems caused by the current system and offers a solution. To view the full report, please click here.
“It’s frustrating having a hunt ruined by people riding ATVs where off-road vehicle use is prohibited. Many ATVs look the same so there’s no way to identify violators when reporting the incident to law enforcement. There should be a requirement that off-road vehicles used on public lands have license plates or large decals. Any ATV user who follows the law and land management directives on where they can and can not use these machines should have no objection to this type of identification.”
