Off-roaders, hunters get scrutiny

Andrea Rivera

A checkpoint staffed by several agencies Sunday in the Redington area sought to enforce rules on hunting and off-road-vehicle use.

Motorists operating or towing off-road vehicles also were asked to show they had valid tags and off-highway-vehicle decals at the checkpoint on Redington Road in the Coronado National Forest. Hunters were asked for licenses and game tags.

Officials with the Arizona Game & Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service and the Pima County Sheriff's Department screened 163 vehicles during an eight-hour period on Redington Road at Milepost 7.5, which is accessed from the east end of Tanque Verde Road, said Mark Hart, Game & Fish spokesman.

Officials talked with 23 off-road-vehicle users and issued 11 warning tickets to people who failed to display decals, Hart said.

Warnings were mostly issued at the checkpoint because officials wanted to educate the public about obtaining proper licenses and decals, Hart said.

State law requires off-highway vehicles weighing 1,800 pounds or less to have an OHV sticker displayed on the upper left-hand corner of the vehicle's license plate.

Decals cost $25 and can be bought on the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division's Web site at www.servicearizona.com, Hart said.

Officials also stopped 52 hunters, and all had valid licenses, Hart said. One hunter was issued a citation for not having the proper game tag attached to a deer, and three others were issued warnings for game tags, Hart said.

The area is popular with hunters, and it's the midpoint of hunting season, he said.
Other citations issued Sunday by the Sheriff's Department included two misdemeanor citations for possession of marijuana, and one person stopped was cited for driving on a suspended license. 

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Source: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/319449

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