Police Issue Warning For Off-Roaders

Written by KPHO-TV

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Jason Barry

It's a problem Ron and Monica Procunier would like solved.

"I would say it's a daily occurrence and on the weekends it's pretty much all the time," Ron Procunier said. The Peoria homeowner has had enough of all the off-road vehicles rolling through his neighborhood, then revving it up in the desert next door, which happens to be restricted state land surrounded by no trespassing signs.

"They should know the access is restricted and they just come in anyway," said Monica Procunier. " I think they genuinely don't care unless there's a penalty that will prevent them from continuing to do it.

"A couple days ago, a Jeep flipped over an open mine shaft, just down the desert from the Procunier's home. One of the passengers was trapped inside and had to be rescued.He now faces criminal trespassing charges, along with two other friends in the Jeep.Police insist these off-roaders knew they were driving where they don't belong and they're not alone.

"Before you go out into the desert, you have a responsibilty to check where you can go and where you can't go," said Peoria police spokesman Mike Tellef. Some neighbors have started to block access areas with boulders.They'd also like some extra help from local law enforcement.

"It's just people want to have fun and don't think it's a big deal," said Procunier.

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Source: http://www.kpho.com/news/20298248/detail.html

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State by State Momentum

Community Voices

“Once they chased our cow into a deep arroyo where it fell and broke its neck. I don't understand how anyone could think chasing livestock is fun.” As a result of the growing conflicts with off-roaders, the Gonzales family stopped their cattle ranching. It doesn't matter whether it is a plate or decal, what is important is that the identification is visible. The police could have tracked down the illegal riders if we had been able to photograph the IDs on their vehicles. I think that would have made them think twice before breaking the law.”

- Eleanor Gonzales, private property owner in Santé Fe County, NM