South Dakota

John Hult

The Lincoln County Commission is ready to take public comment on a plan that could ban most four-wheelers in ditches next to certain county roads.

The commission voted unanimously to set a first reading and public hearing of an off-road ordinance for 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Canton.

Clinton Larson

The Lincoln County Commission got a look at what could be its process for dealing with off-road vehicle concerns.

Deputy States Attorney Mike Nadolski presented a draft ordinance for prohibiting off-road vehicles at the board’s regular meeting on Oct 14. The board asked Nadolski to draft an ordinance after a rural Harrisburg resident, Willis Hanna, expressed concerns about off-road vehicles jumping his driveway.

Preserving the Black Hills’ natural beauty while, at the same time, allowing for the public use of the hundreds of thousands of acres that are open for biking, hiking and off-road vehicles requires some compromise.

But sometimes the sides involved realize it’s difficult to find common ground.

Karla Ramaekers

You may soon have to pay a fee to drive an off-highway vehicle in the Black Hills.
The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board met today in Rapid City to take public comment on how license fees should be imposed.

It's currently free to ride an ATV or a dirtbike on designated trails in the Black Hills.
But due to rising costs of maintenance on the trails, The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board met today to discuss licensing fees with the public.

Dalton Walker

Willis Hanna is uneasy each time he drives out of his driveway onto 273rd Street in rural Harrisburg.

Most days, highway traffic is sparse. But it's what he can't see that bothers him.

All-terrain vehicles jump his driveway from ditch to ditch, most times at blazing speed, he said. A block of trees hug his driveway near the ditch, making it tough to see any movement.