Recent Developments

Written by Kevin Druff

Monday, July 13, 2009

Colorado: Local Coalition Leads Reform to ORV Grant Program

On July 16, the Colorado State Parks Board approved a plan to reform that state's $4 million annual Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program. The reform effort was led by a coalition of 40 Colorado organizations representing over 100,000 law enforcement officers, sportsmen, and other trail users. A Denver Post investigative story uncovered serious abuses and fiscal irresponsibility in the program, amidst a state budget crisis and greatly increased ORV riding resulting in more illegal off-trail use. Click here here to read more about this common sense plan.

Idaho: Reckless ORV Riders to Pay to Restore Damage they Caused in Popular Recreation Area

“When we see illegal ATV use like this, we want to both help users understand the environmental damage caused by their actions and correct the behavior,” said Steve Bryant, Law Enforcement Officer for the Palouse Ranger District. “Then we turn to restoring function on the damaged land. In this case, the perpetrators’ actions were so egregious they were required to pay substantial fines, providing the agency with the means to begin restoration work.” Click here to read the story from KLEW in Lewiston, ID.

9 out of 10 Sportsmen Agree: Tougher Penalties for Illegal ORV Riding

A survey conducted by Eastmans’ Hunting Journal found that nearly 94% of sportsmen support tougher penalties for ORV riders that illegally ride in closed areas. The most common response was also the most severe – nearly 38% of respondents believe ORVs should be confiscated in addition to loss of hunting privileges for a year. Read the entire poll results along with candid quotes from sportsmen here.

Award Winning Local News Catches Off-roaders Trespassing on Rancher’s Property

A Bakersfield, CA news station caught off-roaders illegally riding on the property of ranchers Jeremy and Brandie Dunn. Below, you can see the damage they’ve done to the Dunns’ property and watch Brandie’s encounter with an off-roader trespassing on her property. Note: This article was given an Associated Press Mark Twain Award for Investigative Reporting. Read the whole story here here .

Rider's view: Common-sense ORV Management Needed

Garrett Veneklasen, an outdoorsman from Taos, NM, wrote in the Albuquerque Journal about his experience riding ORVs in New Mexico and concerns about reckless riders:

"I've been riding my quad on much of that land over the past 15 years. But the irresponsible behavior of a growing contingent of reckless off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders is not only threatening to limit my access to those trails - more importantly, it's threatening wildlife and wildlife habitat."

Click here to read the full story.

Hunter's view: Overuse of ATVs Threatens Backcountry Hunting

David A. Lien of Colorado Springs, Colo., a big-game hunter, life member of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and the acting chairman of Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers wrote in the Duluth News Tribune:

"We believe there is a place for off-highway vehicle routes on public lands but that greater controls and better enforcement are necessary in the face of growing human population and ever-more-powerful machines."

Click here to read the full story.

GAO Releases First ORV Investigation Since 1995

7/30/09 - The investigative arm of Congress issued its first review of ORV management in over a decade today, finding widespread habitat damage from reckless riding, mounting enforcement challenges and evidence of conflicts with other users. Their survey of federal land managers from across the country found:

ORV damage has occurred on almost 20% of federal lands and in some areas as much as 80%. 20% of federal lands is roughly the size of California.

Conflicts are occurring with other trail users, private land owners, and irresponsible ORV users.

Enforcement is the top challenge to ORV management.

Current penalties do not deter reckless riding.

A majority of land managers said they cannot sustainably manage ORVs, citing lack of human and financial resources.

The GAO recommended implementing better planning at BLM and USFS, enhancing communication with the public though user-friendly maps and trail signs, and examining current penalty structures.

To view the full report, please Click Here.

Montana

A survey of off-road vehicle riders by the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research found that state ORV enthusiasts are worried that a few reckless riders are threatening access for all. Respondents most often cited access to trails (60 percent) as the most important issue facing ORV recreation, while nearly 23 percent mentioned safety, particularly personal responsibility. Many comments expressed concern that the irresponsible behavior of a few reckless riders was ruining riding opportunities for all. As reported in the Summer 2009 Montana Business Quarterly, the report's author concluded that, "A viable future for OHV use includes a balance that promotes responsible riding." Click here to read the whole report.

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State by State Momentum

Community Voices

"Some people are stringing wire across trails. My buddy ended up in the hospital for a couple of weeks,"

-- Dan Buske, rider, of West Milford, "New law to increase opportunities, and costs, for N.J. ATV operators", The Star Ledger (1/24/10)