N.H. man prosecuted for forest trail damage

Written by Bennington Banner

Monday, November 10, 2008

John D. Waller

WOODFORD — The federal government prosecuted a New Hampshire man and three others last week for damaging Green Mountain National Forest trails in Woodford.

Andrew Hannah, 37, of New Ipswich, N.H., appeared in federal court on Nov. 4 after he was caught illegally driving on a snowmobile trail in August. He was apprehended after his motor vehicle got stuck.

In an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the forest service, Hannah agreed to pay the service a portion of the more than $1,000 needed to repair the "extensive damage" he caused. Manchester District Ranger Alex Sienkiewicz said vandals should expect to pay for their damage.

"Destruction of public property, whether it's harm to the landscape or clipping locks (on gates), is something we take very seriously," he said in a statement. "It violates federal law and it is often the taxpayers who end up footing the bill."

Hannah's exact fine was not disclosed by forest officials. He did pay an initial $450 fine in August to offset some of the costs associated with repairing the three-mile section of trails.

Three other men, who were not identified by forest officials, also paid fines associated with illegally operating a motor vehicle on a snowmobile trail and damaging government property.

Vandalism on forest lands in Woodford has been an ongoing problem. In May, illegal activity, such as unauthorized ATVs, four-while drive vehicles and motorcycles, resulted in more than $20,000 worth of damage, Sienkiewicz said at the time. The money went toward repairing gates, planting and staff time.

Off-road vehicles are prohibited on all forest lands, except in rare areas where a town has jurisdiction over a road that runs through the forest and allows this activity.

Anyone with information regarding forest vandalism is asked to contact Sienkiewicz at 802-362-2307 in the service's Manchester office.

Source: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/local/ci_10945357

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State by State Momentum

Community Voices

“We’ve had success bringing illegal riders to justice by snapping photos of their ID stickers. The problem in California is that they’re too darn small to see from far away or at high speeds. While I’m normally not in favor of the government getting involved in things, requiring all ORVs to have a visible ID with a minimum size and standard location would make them an even better tool for property owners to identify trespassing riders. We should also look to Wyoming’s lead and make trespassing penalties clear so riders think twice before they head off designated trails and onto my land.”

- Mesonika Piecuch, private property owner, Kern County, CA