Washington

Recent Legislative Action

2009

SB5128: Includes tougher requirements for minors riding on roads, additional liability protections for property owners, requires ORV fund money to be spent on restoration before it can be spent on ORV facilities & allows for confiscation of vehicles for ORV offenses (1/29/09: Hearing scheduled in Senate Natural Resources Committee)

SB5129: Requires larger, visible ID decals on front and back of all ORVs (1/2/09: Hearing scheduled in Senate Natural Resources Committee)

SB5586: Makes ORV safety training mandatory beginning in 2010, with some exceptions (1/2/09: Hearing scheduled in Senate Natural Resources Committee)

2008

SB5544: Sets penalties ranging from $100 to $800 for riding an ORVs near residences, close enough to create audible noise (1/14/08: Reintroduced to State Senate)

SB6881: Sets tougher standards to reduce noise from ORVs and increases penalties for violations (1/30/08: Referred to Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee)

Community Voices Demand Action in Washington

Washingtonians are increasingly voicing their concerns about a growing contingent of reckless riders who break the law, damage public and private land, injure themselves and others, and ruin hunting, fishing and hiking experiences for the rest of us.

• "People may not be aware of either the short or long-term damage they cause. Damaged areas create erosion, impact wildlife, soils and clean water, hurting everyone and leaving long-lasting and ugly visual scars on the land." -- Janet Flanagan, Entiat District Ranger, "Off-road vehicle use damaging local public lands," KHQ, (4/29/2010)

• "The dust was so bad, you could only see shapes in the pasture. You couldn't see the horses. The noise was horrendous." Don Cooper, a Gleed-area. -- David Lester, reporter, "Proposed ORV ordinance stirs up the dust", Yakima Herald-Republic (4/19/09)

• "There are a lot of mom and pop riders who just want to ride down the road. The problem is I can't figure out how to keep them on and the scofflaws out." -- Tim Foss, Trails, Wilderness and ORV manager for the Cle Elum Ranger District, "Forest Service developing off-road vehicle plans", The Daily Record (4/8/09)

• "I'm an avid outdoorsman and hunter. I don't have a four-wheeler nor feel the need to use one. Every year I see more destruction, disrespect and trespassing on private property. Any sign you put up promptly gets shot full of holes. Any gate promptly gets driven around and the property behind the gate gets all torn up." -- Ron Kent, Vancouver Resident - Letter to the Editor, The Columbian (12/13/08)

• “A lot of these folks, they were just independent individuals who left their manners and common sense at home and just let it all out. I’m part of a reputable club and we’re trying to do the right thing and keep the trails in good shape, so we did a little education and asked them to follow the rules. But by Saturday some of them were like, ‘Hey, there’s no enforcement, anything goes!’” -- Ron Rutherford, rider, "Three-day weekend brings out 'idiots'", Yakima Herald (6/7/10)

• "First, there is the point that the sparsity of trails results in drivers spilling over into environmentally sensitive areas. But those acts are illegal; citing multiple violations of the law is not the best way to lobby your case." -- Editorial, "Protecting Pinchot: Despite Friday’s protest, fragile forest does not need more off-road vehicle trails", The Columbian (12/9/08)

• "We've also had problems with ATV use, and we've put barriers to keep people from just running everywhere and making trails. But people still get around them." -- Loren Torgersen, DNR's Northeast Region manager in Colville, "DNR Closes 40 acres to shooting: Trash, trails mar Stevens County site", The Spokesman Review (11/2/08)

• "There's quite a lot of disappointment that people were actually so stupid to think they could tear up a place like that. Why these guys felt they needed to be up there and four-wheel, I don't know." -- Jim Langdon, trailmaster for the Friends of Badger Mountain, "Man goes off-roading, damages hiking trail", Associated Press (10/22/08)

• "Not only has he torn up a big part of the mountain, we don't know if there's transmission fluid, oil, brake grease or more leaking out." -- Adam Fyall, Benton County's community development coordinator, "Man goes off-roading, damages hiking trail", Associated Press (10/22/08)

• "As the population grows, we’re going to see increases in the call volume up there. Looking to the future, it’s an issue that’s not going to go away." -- Scott Koehler, chief of East County Fire and Rescue, "Off-road vehicle stretch emergency crews", The Columbian (10/6/08)

• "Him mistaking my yard for a field would be like mistaking a field for a jetlanding strip." -- Tom Hyde, resident of Camas who recently spent $4,600 on a fence to keep off-roaders off his property, "Couple: Off-roaders make peace and quiet elusive", Lewiston Morning Tribune (9/4/08)

• "Parts of the Amon Creek Natural Preserve might look enticing to an ATV driver, but the area isn't meant to be torn up by motorized vehicles...With the help of neighbors and the Richland police, we hope the day will soon come when everyone treats the Amon preserve like the treasure it's become." -- Tri-City Herald Editorial Board, "Off-road vehicles have no place at Amon Creek", Tri-City Herald (8/15/08)

• "ATV's, dirt bikes, Jeeps...go right into the creek. It's a big problem. Our goal is to preserve the park as well as the natural preserve." -- Doug Doss, Richland Police Officer, "Police, residents keeping an eye on Amon Creek", Tri-City Herald (7/27/08)

• "It costs the local Forest Service district and county taxpayers thousands of dollars to restore pieces of land chewed up by four-wheel drive vehicles and their drivers....For law-abiding off-roaders...every mudding incident potentially restricts innocent drivers. The Forest Service may be forced to close trails to let a meadow recover and that limits the off-roading community.'We're upset. We lose trails because somebody else does something stupid. This is common sense." -- Ron Dunn Jr., Off-Roader, "Dirty Mudders", The Daily Record (5/28/08)

• "There just aren't enough hours in the day to deal with all of this,' [Mumford] said at 7:30 p.m. after writing his last citations of the long day to a couple riding an ATV. The vehicle was not registered and neither rider was wearing the required helmet." -- Mike Mumford, Colville National Forest law enforcement officer, "Over-riding issues", The Spokesman Review (6/8/08)

• “The real tragedy is if you look at the history of development of recreation trails, both motorized and non-motorized, you’ll see the majority of investment was done in the ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s. Since then — whether you’re talking about state parks, the Department of Natural Resources, the Forest Service or whoever — we as a society really haven’t invested at the same level, and yet our population has doubled. We haven’t been able to adapt to that change or even have the staff to manage this influx of people so that we don’t have these impacts that we’re seeing across the state." -- Mark Mauren, Washington Department of Natural Resources, "Three-day weekend brings out 'idiots'", Yakima Herald (6/7/10)

• "I don't think [Mumford's] experience would be an exception across the West... When I began working with the Forest Service we were kind of proud that people could drive around the forests without many restrictions. But that was a different day. The agency is behind the curve in the explosion of off-road vehicles." -- Brad Powell, former Forest Ranger for Mount Saint Helens, Washington, and current President of Trout Unlimited, "Over-riding issues", The Spokesman Review (6/8/08)

Examples of Recent ORV-Related Law Enforcement Activity

Source: United States Forest Service

2008

• Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF - On 1/26, a snowmobiler reported his friend missing after he failed to arrive at his pickup. King County SAR led a multi-agency search effort in heavy snow that found the missing snowmobiler the next day about 15 feet off a County road. The rider was pinned under the overturned snowmobile and pronounced dead at the scene. The LEO seized a .40 caliber pistol in the deceased's backpack for investigation of $2,000 vandalism to interpretive signs and structure at the Wellington trailhead. The deceased had purchased the snowmobile the previous week. Alcohol was involved in the incident.

• Gifford-PinchotNF - An LEO observed a truck parked along a road on the Cowlitz Valley RD and fresh quad tracks going from the truck up the road. A short time later, the operator of the quad arrived and stated he knew it was illegal to ride on a paved road, but didn't think he would get caught. The man was issued a citation.

• Okanogan-Wenatchee NF - An LEO and FPO's worked a late season snowmobile opening of the Mill Creek/Stevens Pass Ski Area on the Wenatchee River RD. Warnings and violation notices were issued for registration and wilderness violations. Numerous alcohol related contacts were made. The LEO observed two people on a snowmobile stop in front of a wilderness boundary sign. One person got off and read the sign. The LEO overheard an argument as one of the riders pressured the other to go beyond the sign. They entered the wilderness area and were cited for having the snowmobile in the wilderness. The same day, a Chelan County SD deputy informed the LEO of an accident in the area. A person with a possible broken leg was located and cared for until rescue units arrived. FPO's on wilderness boundary ski patrol responded to provide assistance with evacuation of the patient via rescue sled.

• Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF - On 10/7, an LEO stopped three off-road motorcycle riders for riding on an NFS Road on the Skykomish RD. The second motorcycle in the group did not have street legal or off-road registration. A computer check of the VIN indicated the motorcycle was reported stolen and it was impounded. The rider was interviewed and released. The case has been forwarded to the King County SD and prosecutor. The new motorcycle, valued at about $7,500, had been stolen from a dealership while it was still in the crate on the day it was delivered.

• Okanogan-Wenatchee NF - On 6/16, an LEO/K9 team responded to an NFS road near Munds Park where two ATV riders had been ambushed and assaulted by persons previously unknown to them. The victims were riding their ATV's on an NFS Road when they were passed by the suspects riding ATV's at a high rate of speed. The two groups exchanged words, with the victims claiming they did not want to fight. The suspects drove on, pulled into the trees at the side of the road and waited for the victims. One rider was hit in the head with a football-sized rock, drug off the ATV, kicked, and punched. The other rider was tackled off his moving ATV and sustained a possible broken foot. The fight was broken-up by a bystander. As the suspects fled the scene, they reportedly said they would be back with guns to finish the job. Coconino County SD Deputies later identified the suspects and charges are pending.

• Okanogan-Wenatchee NF - On 6/10, LEO's responded to a report of an ATV accident in the Badin Lake OHV area on the Uwharrie RD and found the victims had been moved by private vehicle to the parking lot of a nearby store. Three brothers had been riding 4-wheel ATV's on the Rocky Mount Loop Trail when ATV #2 reportedly experienced brake failure while traveling down hill, causing it to strike ATV #1 from behind. The operator of ATV #1 lost control and fell off. ATV #2 continued down hill, through a fence and struck a tree. The operator of ATV #3 was not involved, but witnessed the incident. LEO's assisted paramedics with medical aid for the victims. Both injured men were transported by ambulance to the hospital. Operator #1 was treated for contusions and released. Operator #2 was treated for a fractured arm, fractured ribs, fractured scapula, and a punctured lung.

• Okanogan-Wenatchee NF On 6/2, an LEO investigated a report of off-road vehicles entering a prohibited area on the Nantahala RD and observed a large number of individuals operating 4-wheelers and dirt bikes up and down a ridge. The LEO contacted the drivers and escorted them out of the area. All were charged for being in a prohibited area and causing damage to land and vegetation.

• Okanogan-Wenatchee NF - On 5/28, an LEO and an FPO responded to a dispersed camp on the Black Mesa RD to investigate claims of illegal OHV use and loud noise. Upon entering the large camp, the LEO noticed several OHV's without any registration. Checks of the vehicle identification numbers revealed that one OHV was reported stolen from California in 2004. The LEO determined that the man in possession of the OHV had borrowed it from an elderly neighbor who had purchased it at a roadside sale in Phoenix. The OHV was impounded and stored for the local SD to continue the investigation.

• Okanogan-Wenatchee NF - On 5/26-27, an LEO was assisted by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Officers and an Okanogan County SD Deputy in responding to three ATV/ORV collisions with injuries on the Methow Valley RD. One person collided head-on with a car after being advised earlier in the day by the LEO that the NFS Road was closed to ATV's. Multiple seatbelt citations and warnings were also given as part of the statewide emphasis being conducted by Washington SP. Arrests were made and citations issued for various other offenses including felon in possession of firearm, violation of no contact order, warrant for escape from community custody, and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Recent ORV-Related Media Coverage