 Community Voices Demand Action in ArkansasArkansans are increasingly voicing their concerns about a growing contingent of reckless riders who break the law, damage public and rivate land, injure themselves and others, and ruin hunting, fishing and hiking experiences for the rest of us. - "County planners, town of Dillon, Forest Service and any other state entity should think twice before impairing the quality of life to hundreds of homeowners who live in the area surrounding the proposed expanded trails. Already we hear the "pop pop" and whirring noise created by the current off-road vehicle users." -- Anne DelVillano, Dillon resident LtE, "Tenderfoot Concerns", Summit Daily News (1/8/09)
- "I understand the need to regulate it, but don't force me on to the same trails as a bunch of young, hot-rodders, each one with an ice chest strapped on [their vehicle], trying to see how fast they can go. These old roads were not designed for heavy use. They hold up OK for the occasional truck. But ATV folks often form large groups. How often do you see people say, 'Let's get our pickups and make a caravan?' You just don't see that." -- Paul Reeves, "Agency aims to restrict ATV traffic Proposal will make trails safer, be better for forest, service says", Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (1/27/08)
- "If you've got an ATV that's on the road and there's excessive speeding involved in there, sliding around on the rocks and that sort of thing and they may think around that next curve there's no vehicles and they get around the curve and there's a vehicle and next thing you know you have an ATV vehicle head on." -- Sheriff Larry Mills, "Region 8 police warn of increase ATV, motorcycle traffic", KAIT-TV (6/17/10)
Examples of Recent ORV-Related Law Enforcement ActivitySource: United States Forest Service 2007 - Ozark-St. Francis NF's - LEI personnel investigated numerous ATV violations in the Richland Creek Wilderness on the Big Piney RD. After an extensive investigation, two suspects were identified as riding ATV's in the wilderness on three different occasions. LEO's interviewed the suspects and issued violations notices to them.
Recent ORV-Related Media Coverage
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Written by KAIT-TV
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Thursday, June 17, 2010 |
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Josh Harvison Officials with the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office Wednesday said more teenagers and younger adults are taking to city streets on all terrain vehicles, a violation of state and local law. According to Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills, they've witnessed an increase in the number of ATV riders this summer. He said with the additional of several ATV riders comes the possibility of more accidents. "You've got kids out of school and when they're out of school, we were the same way, you know they're going to find something to do with their time," said Mills. "If they have access to an ATV, then they're probably going to be on it." |
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Read more... [Region 8 police warn of increase ATV, motorcycle traffic]
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Written by KFSM-TV
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Sunday, February 21, 2010 |
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Kate Luck The National Forest Service is tightening its rules for riders of All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs. And one group is trying to fight the ruling, saying it would do more harm than good. |
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Read more... [National Forest Service to Tighten Where ATVs Can Be Ridden]
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Written by Associated Press
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Monday, February 01, 2010 |
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Mark Gregory HOT SPRINGS, Ark.—Members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation say a National Forest Service plan to close areas of the Ouachita National Forest to off-road vehicles should be stopped in its tracks. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Rep. Mike Ross say any such rule could hurt the economy in western Arkansas. They cite the Mena area in particular as one that would be hard-hit by an off-road vehicle ban in the national forest. |
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Read more... [Lawmakers against off-road ban in Ouachita]
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Written by Southwest Times Herald
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Thursday, January 07, 2010 |
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Rusty Garrett A long-anticipated decision regulating the use of roads and off-road trails in the Ouachita National Forest has been released, with implementation tentatively scheduled for this spring. However, a number of outdoor recreation enthusiasts and those who cater to them say they will likely appeal the plan, which they say is overly restrictive. |
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Read more... [Lawsuits Loom On Forest Trail Plan]
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Written by Newport Independent
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Friday, May 29, 2009 |
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Melissa Lore As the weather gets warmer and schools are dismissed for the summer, officers of the law all over the county are working to maintain the safety of residents and are battling the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s), specifically four wheelers, on the city streets and highways. According to the Arkansas Motor Vehicle and Traffic Laws and State Highway Commission Regulations, “it shall be unlawful for any person to operate an all-terrain vehicle upon the public streets and highways of this state,” with the exceptions of use in farming or hunting operations, when the vehicle is on the public street or highway in order to get from one field to another. Exceptions are made for specific handicaps. |
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Read more... [Summer heats up four-wheeler concerns]
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Written by The Benton County Daily Record
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009 |
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Andra Atteberry BELLA VISTA - A ban on allterrain vehicles, go-carts and motorized dirt bikes in Bella Vista came a step closer to reality Monday night at a meeting of the Bella Vista City Council. The council had the second reading of an ordinance banning the vehicles from operating in the city unless they are run on a minimum of 3 acres of property owned by the recreational-vehicle riders. |
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Read more... [ATV ban nearing reality in Bella Vista]
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Written by KAIT Channel 8 News
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Wednesday, January 07, 2009 |
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Keith Boles MAYNARD (KAIT) All terrain vehicles are designed to go pretty much anywhere and everywhere. But one Region Eight town says they don't belong on their city streets. A street is the wrong place for an atv to be. |
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Read more... [Maynard Taking Issue With ATV's]
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