Forum focuses on off-roading flashpoints

Rebecca Unger

Problems with off-highway vehicles have dropped as patrols by the sheriff’s department climbed, but that’s likely to change in the near future.

That was one of the items of information at a packed public forum held Monday night at the Joshua Tree Community Center.

Sgt. James Porter, who supervises off-highway vehicle enforcement through the Morongo Basin sheriff’s station, said five local officers are assigned part-time to OHV duty.

Their operations are funded entirely by a state grant through the Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicles Division, but the grant has declined from $150,000 in 2006 to $44,000 this year.

“The number of OHVs in areas where they’re not supposed to be has been dramatically reduced,” Porter said. “But with the decline of grant funding, there is going to be less proactive patrol time spent on OHV-specific enforcement, and we are likely to see an upswing in calls.”

Porter was one of seven members of a panel of experts who addressed issues that have become flashpoints between riders and residents who object to off-road abuses.

Alan Rasmussen, field representative for 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry, hoped those present could find some common ground through the educational forum.

One of the themes was the confusion over who has jurisdiction over off-roading and off-road crime

Steve Razo, the Bureau of Land Management’s director of external affairs for the California Desert District, said it isn’t always easy to tell who owns land in the desert.

“One of the biggest challenges we have in the Desert District is checkerboards of private, state and federal lands up against each other, with off-road or recreational activities through those areas,” Razo told his listeners.

“What’s happening here tonight is the best way to deal with it — get together, talk about it and understand it.”

Another BLM leader said staffing is another problem when it comes to enforcing rules on federal land.

The BLM’s Barstow field office, which oversees the Morongo Basin, has seven law enforcement rangers on staff, but “it stretches them pretty thin,” Mickey Quillman, chief of resources at Barstow, said.

His office covers about 2.3 million acres of public land in the Mojave Desert.

Another slice of off-road patrol belongs to San Bernardino County Code Enforcement.

Mike Romage, code enforcement officer, clarified his department’s role in OHV enforcement.

“We are not responsible for highways … we are responsible for private roads and private property,” Romage explained.

“If it’s a legitimate code enforcement complaint like land use, building codes or health and safety, code enforcement is required to open a case.”

From the audience, Gary Shaw of Yucca Valley asked about trespassing and code violations.

“It’s a code violation if they’re on OHVs and they’re creating a public nuisance, or if they’re riding on private property without permission from the property owner,” Romage explained.

Jenny Wilder from Apple Valley wondered who to call about off-road abuses on weekends or at night.

“The sheriff’s dispatch handles calls for service on the weekends and refers them to code enforcement,” Porter answered.

“But to make your calls effective, get to know who represents OHV enforcement at your sheriff’s station and get their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Let them know if you’d like a call back when an officer is dispatched.”

Another topic was how citizens might document their complaints by videotaping off-road riders they believe are breaking the law, or confronting riders to inform them of the rules.

Simon Umsheid, the county’s supervising deputy district attorney in Joshua Tree, said videotaped evidence of nuisance or illegal activity can be compelling in court, but it can also lead to “a powerful escalation” of a situation that might not be that serious.

“Trust your instincts,” he advised. “Decide how important it is. My concern is that disputes should not accelerate into violence. We’re here to assist you in finding ways to resolve your disputes.”

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Source: http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/2010/11/27/news/doc4cf0bdb71ff5d198090163.txt

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