Oregon

Recent Legislative Action

2009

SB583: Toughens helmet laws for riders under 18 (6/23/09: Signed into law)

SB578: Establishes task force to study ORV safety (7/23/09: Signed into law)

HB2020: Creates a new account to address the spread of invasive species and pays for it in part by transferring money from the ORV fund into the new fund. (7/28/09: Signed into law)

2008

SB49: "Kyle's Law" would ban children under 12 from ORVs and restrict ages 12-15 to youth sized models (7/8/08: Introduced)

HB 2063: Prohibits ORV riders from carrying passengers on public lands unless machine is designed for an additional passenger (6/28/08: In Committee on Transportation at Adjournment)

HB 2062: Makes helmets mandatory for all ORV and off-road motorcycle riders on public lands (6/28/08: In Transportation Committee at Adjournment)

2007

SB101: Phases in mandatory training for all ORV riders in the state - children under 15 must have the training by 1.9.09 (8/3/07: Signed into Law)

Community Voices Demand Action in Oregon

• "It's hard to live with on a daily basis, it's depressing, it's just a horrible thing to see right in your back yard." -- Ann’s Butte resident on reckless ORV use, asking to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, "Ann's Butte Closed to Off Road Vehicles", KOHD-ABC News, (1/14/09)

• "Spend a summer weekend at Sand Lake Recreation Area, and it's almost a given you will hear the scream of an ambulance at least once, probably more. Riders roll their rigs, collide with others, jump and crash. They break bones, shred skin and bang heads -- all in the name of fun. Three people have died at Sand Lake in the past 10 months." -- Lori Tobias, Oregonian Staff Writer, "Sand Dune Playground Gets More Crowded", The Oregonian (10/4/08)

• "We have seasonal road closures to protect wildlife. We are having problems with [ORV] cross-country travel that messes things up for hunters." -- Steven George, OR Department of Fish and Wildlifd biologist, "Many areas should see good deer prospects", Statesman Journal (10/1/08)

• "Last year, in one case, people set fires in the sand and were riding their ATVs through the fires. They poured fuel in the sand and set it on fire. A lot of the problems are associated with alcohol, but a lot of accidents have occurred and a lot of citations have been issued, and even arrests made, by the county late at night." -- George Buckingham, supervisor of the Hebo Ranger District, "Sand Lake to ban overnight riding by ATVs", Statesman Journal (8/26/08)

• "There's increasing concern about trespass and the liability associated with [ORVs]." -- Lyle Spiesschaert, owner of fields north of Forest Grove, "Trespassers cost farmers thousands", The Forest Grove News-Times (4/30/08)

• “Noise is definitely an issue. You can tell very quickly who’s legal and who’s not. I think the only way you’re going to solve it is by enforcement.” -- Rob Shuck, sportsman, "Dune routes designation revs up noise debate", Suislaw News (7/13/10)

• "They're out there at all hours of the night...they party out there, drinking all night. And when they get stuck, they rev their engines to get out, and that's even noisier." -- Tina Running, Bethel area homeowner, "Some residents say four-wheel drive enthusiasts create a nuisance", The Register-Guard (4/5/07)

• "I enjoy hunting an am also an OSP game officer... I have heard all the excuses and wish the penalties were more severe for violators" -- Craig Johnson, "Speaking Up", Eastman's Hunting Journal (Feb.-Mar. '10)

• "In my state, thousands of Oregonians responsibly use off-road vehicles for work and recreation, but there has been an astronomic increase in the popularity of the vehicle that has caught a lot of public land managers unprepared. For example, ORV sales in our state had increased 400 percent between 1990 and 2004. Got roughly 138,000 active operating permits today. And currently, travel management plans are pending for 11 National forests and nine BLM districts representing more than 19 million acres of our public lands in total. And given the variety and vastness of the public lands, it seems to me that there is room for both motorized and non-motorized recreation, if the agencies, particularly the two agencies we have here, Mr. Hultrop and Mr. Bisson, can put in place the comprehensive, in a comprehensive and responsible way, a plan that will enhance opportunities for ORV users while keeping the public lands safe and accessible for all recreation." -- Senator Ron Wyden, United States Senate, Energy and Natural Resources Committee: Off Highway Vehicle Management on Public Lands (6/5/08)

Examples of Recent ORV-Related Law Enforcement Activity

Source: United States Forest Service

2008

• Siuslaw NF - On 7/20, an ATV accident at the Oregon Dunes NRA resulted in one fatality. A 52 year-old man operating an ATV unexpectedly went over a 12-foot dune and his ATV landed on top of him. Coos County SD and a Central Coast RD LEO responded to the accident.

• Deschutes-Ochoco NF - On 5/26, a Crescent RD LEO and a PC responded to assist Oregon SP with a serious OHV accident. The officers assisted with first aid, closed the highway, and directed a medical helicopter to evacuate the patient.

• Deschutes-Ochoco NF's - On 5/23, LEO's from the Bend Ft. Rock and Sisters RD's responded to a campsite where a person armed with an ax was threatening OHV riders from an adjacent camp. The intoxicated person was arrested on state charges of menacing.

• On 4/5-6, LEO's and BLM Rangers conducted a special emphasis OHV patrol on the Sisters and Bend-Ft. Rock RD's, Prineville District of the BLM, and Crooked River Grasslands. The saturation patrol was supported by a BLM aircraft funded by the Central Oregon Combined OHV Operations volunteer group. Numerous contacts were made and several violation notices were issued.

• Wallowa-Whitman NF - On 1/27-28, a SAR was conducted for two men, ages 50 and 18, who went snowmobiling together and did not return home as expected. Two LEO's assisted Wallowa, Baker, and Union Counties search for the two by providing equipment, managing communications, and assisting in rescue efforts. The two had apparently become separated while snowmobiling. The older man was located in good health in a permitted cabin. The other man was found suffering from hypothermia and frostbite in a snow cave he had constructed approximately one mile away. He was transported to a hospital where he was released a few days later.

• Deschutes-Ochoco NF's - On 1/12, an LEO and an FPO from the Bend-Ft. Rock RD responded to a snowmobile accident on a trail near Mt. Bachelor. The officers provided patient care to the seriously injured victim and established a landing zone for a helicopter that transported the patient to a local hospital.

•  Willamette NF - On 8/10, two juveniles were riding an ATV on an NFS road on the McKenzie River RD when the ATV side-swiped a guardrail. The resulting crash killed one juvenile and seriously injured the other. One of the juveniles was employed as YCC crew member at the District. Alcohol was believed to be a contributing factor. Lane County SD is conducting the investigation.

• BLM - West Fork Evans Creek Road, OR - On 7/27, around 1900 hours, a Jackson County SD Deputy was dispatched to West Fork Evans Creek Road adjacent to BLM's Elderberry CG regarding a motor vehicle accident between an ATV and pickup truck. Upon arrival on scene, it was determined that a 32 year-old man had succumbed to his injuries from the motor vehicle accident. At the request of the Deputy, an Oregon SP Accident Investigator was dispatched from Grants Pass to perform an investigation. Initial investigation conducted by Oregon SP determined that the deceased was operating an ATV on the roadway at a high rate of speed. A pickup was traveling on the same road, coming from the opposing direction. Seeing the pickup truck coming from the opposite direction, the ATV operator locked up his brakes, causing the ATV to high side and roll, throwing the ATV operator onto the road. The pickup truck then ran over the ATV operator.

• Deschutes, NF - On 3/11, LEO's, Fresno SD, and CHP responded to Jose Basin for a SAR for three children, ages 9, 10 and 14 that became lost after they drove their ATV's from a subdivision onto NFS lands. The juveniles called 911 on a cell phone after being lost for several hours. One of their ATV's ran out of gas and the group separated. A Deputy was able to contact and locate the 14 year-old by using the siren on his vehicle. A CHP Officer located the other two children approximately a mile away. The children were unharmed except one who experienced difficulty breathing due to an asthma condition. The children were turned over to a grandparent.

• Deschutes NF - On 2/17, two LEO's and a Patrol Captain participated in an interagency OHV emphasis patrol with the BLM, Deschutes County SD, Oregon SP and COHVOPS (Combined Off-Highway Vehicle Operations - a joint BLM/Forest Service program) personnel. The BLM utilized a contract fixed wing aircraft as the spotter to direct the participating agencies to observed violations. The effort resulted in 102 OHV rider contacts, 24 citations and 23 warnings issued for a variety of equipment and riding offenses, including shooting from the roadway.

• BLM - Prineville District, OR - On 2/14, the Prineville SA received a report that a BLM employee was being intimidated and threatened. The employee is a crew leader who was supervising the construction of a fence line and gate on public lands in the Terrebonne, OR area. The SA and the Ranger responded to the scene and found the employee to be very emotionally upset. He had been contacted by an adjacent property owner who didn't want the fence put up adjoining his property because it eliminated his ATV access to public lands from his property. (The area was closed to off road vehicle use based upon the Upper Deschutes Resource Management Plan.) The SA and the Ranger interviewed the property owner, and the immediate situation was defused. Upon conclusion of the investigation on 4/20, the man was charged with threatening/offensive conduct toward the BLM employee. He is scheduled to appear in court on 7/9.

Recent ORV-Related Media Coverage