Off-road enthusiasts charged over damage to forest areas

Laurence Hammack

National forest officials have brought charges against 39 off-road enthusiasts who like to gun, spin and slog their four-wheel-drive vehicles through woods and meadows.

The practice, known as "mud-bogging," has caused about $30,000 worth of damage to a section of the Jefferson National Forest in Botetourt and Craig counties, said Woody Lipps, law enforcement patrol captain for the forest service.

Most of the people charged in recent weeks were given summonses to appear in federal court on charges of driving their vehicles off a designated road and damaging government property or resources.

Other charges include drunken driving and underage possession of alcohol.

Mud-boggers apparently revel in spinning their tires to throw around as much mud as they can, causing particular damage to open areas that forest officials have cultivated to foster wildlife.

"This has taken years to accomplish," Lipps said of the affected areas. "And now it's a mudhole where we have to start over."

Mud-boggers usually drive traditional sport utility vehicles or souped-up pickup trucks with oversized tires.

Most of the offenders have been four-wheeling at night and on weekends on Patterson Creek Road, which runs along Caldwell Mountain in Botetourt and Craig counties.

Forest officials have closed a 6.5-mile stretch of Patterson Creek Road, which is accessible from Virginia 606, indefinitely.

Until recently, vehicles had been permitted on the road. But much of the mud-bogging damage has happened when the offenders decide to leave the road and take their vehicles on cross-country routes.

While some of the cases will be handled in state court, most of the offenders will be required to appear in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, where they will likely face fines.

"We are committed to stopping this abuse of the national forest, and we intend to make those convicted pay to repair the damage," said John Price, a forest service law enforcement officer.

Source: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/198989

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