Minnesota

Tom Cherveny

Renville County will be cracking down on violations by the drivers of all-terrain vehicles in its county parks.

The County Board of Commissioners called for an aggressive law enforcement campaign — even though it will bust the budget for park enforcement — to curtail a problem they had once thought quashed.

Sarah Smith

Ryan Johnson

Representatives from state, local and private organizations met Wednesday night to discuss how to best develop recreational trails in northwestern Minnesota.

Troy Schroeder, transportation planner for the Northwest Regional Development Commission, said Wednesday’s meeting in East Grand Forks was part of the agency’s attempt to meet each county’s trail users to come up with future plans.

A Minnesota conservation officer proved that hide-and-seek is more than a children’s game - it can be a good way to catch lawbreakers.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Scott Staples of Carlton was on routine patrol July 4 when two ATVs raced down a paved road, rather than the ditch where they can legally ride. The ATV operators saw the officer’s patrol vehicle and hit the accelerators on their machines. With lights flashing, Staples tailed the ATVs until they pulled off onto a logging path.

A Minnesota conservation officer proved that hide-and-seek is more than a children’s game – it can be a good way to catch lawbreakers.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Scott Staples of Carlton was on routine patrol July 4 when two ATVs raced down a paved road, rather than the ditch where they can legally ride. The ATV operators saw the officer’s patrol vehicle and hit the accelerators on their machines. With lights flashing, Staples tailed the ATVs until they pulled off onto a logging path.

All-terrain-vehicle riders who destroy wetlands in Minnesota face tougher criminal penalties, a year-long ban on riding and, if caught a second time, seizure and forfeiture of their vehicles under a measure signed into law Friday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Jim Konrad, the state Department of Natural Resources enforcement director, said conservation officers probably will seize only a few ATVs each year but hopes the enhanced penalties will deter the worst offenders.

The law, which takes effect Aug. 1, makes reckless destruction of wetlands a gross misdemeanor, which carries penalties of up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $3,000. That offense now is a misdemeanor.

Thumbs up to fuel plan
Thumbs up to Pres. Barack Obama for proposing a new fuel economy plan that will require passenger cars and light trucks to get an overall average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Remember the little Ford Festiva and Geo Metro that got 30-40 mpg? Where did they disappear to?

Thumbs up to advancing technology
Thumbs up to advancing technology. The Daily Journal’s Web site now allows readers to share online stories without having to register or log in.

Thumbs down to cold spring
Thumbs down to the need to haul annual flowers in and out of the house and to cover and uncover other delicate plants because of the cool spring temperatures.

I would like to know what happened to the basic rights of the ordinary citizen. The residents of Minnesota and their neighborhoods are being attacked by a very well organized group of people. The group is riders of ATVs and the companies/dealers who profit from their sales of ATVs.

For those of you who do not know what an ATV is, I will explain. Many years ago, a company manufactured a three-wheeled motorized tricycle, most popular was the three-wheeled Honda machine. It was mounted on three large wheels and proved to be popular, although very deadly. So deadly it was declared illegal to sell. This was the first ATV, quickly followed by four-wheeled motorized units, naturally more stable than the three-wheeler.

The four-wheel units have grown into a public property disaster, and with that have also become the nightmare of cabin owners in the woods of Minnesota. The ATV owners and clubs have assumed that all pubic property is theirs to roam at will, roaring through the state’s woods and untitled land. If you happen to have a cabin or property in the route of these ATVs, you can expect the serenity of your weekends and holidays to be rudely interrupted by ATV riders. Most times these riders have coolers full of booze, and with alcohol comes outrageous behavior. Loud engines roaring through your cabin area on a weekday morning is not the reason I decided to purchase a lakeside cabin. Nor is picking up debris following their passage.

Responding to resident complaints, the Duluth Police Department said it’s cracking down on all-terrain vehicle use in the Morgan Park and Gary-New Duluth neighborhoods.

On Saturday, officers hit the areas in ATVs and stopped four people for illegally riding the vehicles in the area, including two cited for failing to register their ATVs.