Police seeks OHV grant

John V. Ciani

The Ridgecrest Police Department has submitted a preliminary application for funding to the California State Parks, Off‐Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grant Program for the 2011 project year.

The public may review and provide comments and letters of support during the preliminary phase of the application process. Public comments will be accepted from March 8 through April 4.

The $125,790 grant application includes a $34,263 match. Expenditures include $50,000 for a 4x4 truck, $12,000 for a dual-sport motorcycle and $8,890 for training.

The application states OHV activity in East Kern County has increased considerably due to off-road restrictions in other counties such as Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

“Riders from more inhabited urban areas make the IWV their destination for outdoor hobbies due to the relatively short travel time and near-endless possibilities,” stated the application. “During holidays and weekends, small off-road communities will form in the desert areas around the city of Ridgecrest.

It has been estimated that between 60,000 and 100,000 riders and their families have come to enjoy the OHV opportunities in a single weekend. During their stay in the desert, these enthusiasts will often venture into Ridgecrest to replenish their food and fuel supplies as well enjoy other recreation options that the city has to offer. It is not uncommon for riders to bring their OHVs into town and trespass onto private property causing a need for an increased law-enforcement presence to maintain a safe riding environment.

While Ridgecrest does not offer off-highway roads or trails within city limits, it hosts an annual OHV Grand Prix – The Desert Scramble – within the city limits. The riders involved in the race are allowed to ride on closed city streets and empty desert lots inside the city.

In addition to out-of-town riders, Ridgecrest also has a large number of off-road enthusiasts who call the city home. Dirt roads and open dirt lands are found within the city limits, crisscrossing and intersecting Ridgecrest neighborhoods. Resident OHV hobbyists often ride on paved city streets to get to the open and nearby desert to ride. Some operate their off-highway vehicles on vacant properties within the city limits not knowing that they are trespassing on privately owned land.

The Ridgecrest Police Department receives a great number of calls for service related to off-road riders trespassing on private property. “Though there is BLM land such as Rademacher Hills, Charlies Place and Wagon Wheel acceptable for OHV use conveniently located mere feet from city limits, city residents are often tempted to get there illegally by riding on city streets and infringing on private land.”

The department is responsible for all law enforcement in the city limits including illegal OHV activity. Calls for service include noise complaints from such vehicles, riders trespassing on private land and OHV collisions.

The police responded to and investigated three OHV deaths within the city from Feb. 1, 2010 through Feb. 1, 2011. The department has taken several steps to try to reduce the frequency of these problems.

The police department enforces the California Vehicle Code on all paved and dirt roads within the city limits which also includes enforcement of 38000 section of the CVC. They also enforce Ridgecrest Municipal Code 4-5.102, which restricts the use of OHVs within the city limits on public and private property.

The application stated Ridgecrest is not properly equipped to handle OHV-related calls for service. “Patrol officers are issued standard two-wheel-drive patrol units (Ford Crown Victoria) and are unable to contact OHV in desert areas without damaging these vehicles,” it stated.

Usually, officers are unable to contact the riders because they are traveling through areas unreachable except using OHVs or 4x4 trucks.

--

Source: http://www.ridgecrestca.com/newsnow/x231519452/Police-seeks-OHV-grant

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites