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I recently came across in article in USA Today entitled “Off-Road Vehicle Use Fuels Tension, Violence across U.S.” Let me stress that the vast majority of OHV riders obey regulations; the problems come from the small minority who don’t. Here’s some snippets from the article:
Clashes over the sport of off-roading are becoming more violent for riders, property owners and law enforcement officers as conflicts about the use of all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs) escalate, federal officials, landowners and advocacy groups say.
Property owners across the country report that they have been threatened and their homes vandalized by off-road-vehicle users. In Nevada, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, rangers say riders have punched them or charged them with their vehicles.
Riders also are becoming victims. In June, 13-year-old Nicholas Parisot of Wilton, Conn., died of neck injuries after riding his two-wheel dirt bike on private property and hitting a rope tied between trees. Wilton police are investigating whether someone sabotaged the trail, says Capt. Michael Lombardo.
The rest of the article does a fairly good job discussing the controversies around OHV use and the causes of conflict.
I owned two motorcycles when I was in my late teens and early twenties: first a Yamaha 125 enduro and then a Yamaho 400 enduro. These types of motorcycles are essentially dirt bikes (OHVs) that are barely street legal. And yes, I rode on many dirt roads and trails on both private property and public lands.
Once I was riding with a friend on private property. (We were trespassing.) I came hauling ass around a corner and saw a single strand of barbed wire stretched across the trail at chest height. I stopped in time. My buddy just behind me didn’t see it soon enough, but did manage to lay the bike down (meaning he intentionally crashed) just before he would have struck the barbed wire. The barbed wire looked like it had been placed there intentionally to harm motorcyclists.
What do you think of the article? How well does it reflect reality?
I have been interviewed several times including the article you refer to in usa today. I spoke for 40 minutes explaining the issues of conflict between neighbors in the morongo basin and how some anti ohv orginizations create this tension intentionally. Nothing I said was printed except a good embassador comment. Its been my experience that the biased media wants to reflect a negative shadow on OHV operations. The answer is and always will be; Education, Enforcement and realistic Management. An answer however is not what the anti groups what. They want total ilimination of our sport, and they will get it if every rider does not get on board. Educate yourself and others, support Enforcement and be a part of Management.
Blaming a rising backlash against OHV use on public lands on a biased media and anti-OHV organizations is more than a little simplistic.
There are plenty of public lands users like myself who aren’t inherently anti-OHV, but I’m growing tired of fearing for my life because some moke wants to catch air off a blind jump on a multi-use trail (including those which run a short distance from my house).
I second your call for OHV users to educate and enforce safe and non-damaging practices among yourselves, but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be working.
The number of violent confrontations is growing, the damage to public lands is increasing, and illegal use of OHVs appears to be out of control.
I’d suggest the industry had better get their hands around this quickly, otherwise “realistic Management” is going to include increasing bans on OHV use.
Blaming “antis” for all the ills of the OHV industry is misleading and places the burden in the wrong place – the backlash against OHV use is not simply the work of some shadowy group of inexplicably “anti-OHV” people.
And John, I might disagree that this whole mess is due to a “small minority” of OHV users. I’m afraid I can’t find the link right now, but several months ago I read an article about OHV-caused destruction in several western areas where two rangers estimated better than a quarter of the OHV use in their respective management areas was illegal (one suggested a percentage nearer 50%).
Perhaps the answer is education, but with a more environmentally conscious administration coming into power – and many accusing the current administration’s appointees of deliberately ignoring the most glaring OHV issues on public lands – I’d suggest the industry had better get to work, and fast.
Tom, I essentially agree with what you say here. And Ray, we definitely agree in general on the need for education and enforcement.
The key questions:
1. How do we educate OHV users? Through publications that target OHV users? Through signboards at staging areas? Through responsible OHV users who discuss rules and etiquette with irresponsible OHV users?
2. How do we enforce OHV rules? It’s not realistic, especially with the current fiscal situation, to expect the national and state governments to fund enforcement officers, certainly not the number of enforcement officers it would take to get any significant coverage of the large expanses of land that OHVs use.
Some good diologue here. I agree that OHV manufacturers need to get involved. Some are coming around with grants and such, but not fast enough for me. I helped form a group called friends of giant rock to address local OHV issues. As a result I learned that two code enforcement officers were added specifically for OHV violations. Their effort of distributing thousands of brochures and personal contacts with riders has been helpful. FOGR has also printed flyers, gone to meetings held forums posted to blogs and supported local law enforcement. I wrote a article in the local paper titled “Off Road Antics” which targeted the illegal and abusive riders. Our members stop on the trails and discuss the problem we face with anyone who will listen. Yet all of this is not enough. FOGR went to Sacramento with an education program called “RIDE” and presented it to state parks director and to county supervisors. That was two years ago, and nothing gets done. We believe it will work for the Education part. You can check it out on our website. The Enforcement part will always be necessary as there will always be the jerks that just don’t care or have serious learning disabilities. A cooperative Management program is also key. A good model would be Utah’s plan that deals with the Moab trail system. How we enforce rules, yes, sorry to say the left hand don’t know what the right hand is doing. Law enforcement, Sheriff, Code Enforcement, BLM, CHP have different interpretations, jurisdictions and priorities when it comes to enforcement of OHV violations. To make maters worse San Bernardino County has developed even more confusing, redundant and discriminatory laws regarding OHV use. (Ordinance 3973) I have a good relationship with law enforcement and still get conflicting answers to a single question. I didn’t mean to blame the media, only to answer Johns question and share my opinion that in my experience they are biased. If I had to put some blame, it would be on parents, who by the way share some responsibility via our RIDE program. Then there is the fact that more riders and less area to ride demand a real OHV management plan. Then there is the money. Green sticker fees that have more that doubled, gas tax allotments part fee’s. Why isn’t the buck being effectively put to work on these problems? Actually there is a lot of good people working both sides of this fence. Who knows? “Could there be a peace?”
John,
Have you seen the large (12″ x 13″, a little over one inch thick) book Titled, THRILLCRAFT, The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation, Ed. by George Wuerthner; Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont, C2007? It is georgeous, with full page photos and lots of text, too. Worth a look, if you haven’t seen it.
One thing that has seemed to me to encourage “problem OHVers” is some of the outrageous commercials that show drivers having the time of their lives bouncing over and tearing up terrain. First came the pioneers, clearing land and building their cabins, then the cities covered so much land with concrete, then some OHVers, at least, seem focused on destroying many of the remaining patches of natural land that were once part of a huge, connected ecosystem. I feel for the land more than for the OHVers. Destroyed habit for native plants, animals and insects is a loss to all of us.
Ray, thanks for sharing more information, including all the work your group is doing. It sounds like you are having some success at educating OHV riders on proper etiquette and following the laws.
There have always been some inconsiderate off roaders. You may have noticed a few problem characters on the road as well, hey? In fact, I’m sure you’ll agree, you can find inconsiderate folks in any activity that involves Human Beings. And I think you’ll agree, there has never been a shortage of chronic complainers either. Complainers who incessantly point out the very worst and embellish even on that. There are those that intentionally make mountains of mole hills to serve a personal aenda. If anyone belives the editorial in USA Today is fair and unbiased, they should Google Phil Klasky and see what they think then.
Thrill craft indeed. One can’t expect burned out flower children to understand the contribution off roading has had in keeping young “hot-rodders” off the streets. Nether, do they credit the hands on opportunity it offers in the development of this nation’s brave young Engineers, Physicists, Scientists and Mechanics in general. When the anti-OHV geniuses succeed in making Poets and Authors of everyone, we will be a very hungry lot.
I see I’m in the minority here as an off-road enthusiast, but I figure I might as well throw my 2 cents in.
First let me just explain, when I say “off-road enthusiast” I mean I enjoy all aspects of the outdoors. From back-country trekking, skiing/snowboarding to snowmobiling and single track bicycling/motorcycling.
What I see in the management of OUR public lands is a threat to an activity I’ve enjoyed for over 40 years. I’d say the first 30 of those years were enjoyed without any persecution. In fact, very rarely did we encounter anyone but an occasional horseback rider or maybe a hiker. Most of the trails were developed by dirt-bikes riding along old logging trails and existing animal trails.
It’s not just the self proclaimed “environmentalist” walking down those trails I see as the threat. It’s the focus of public land management moving from what once was a ‘Multiple Use’ approach to a much narrower minded ‘Personal Use’ agenda. I also see the so called “Management Specialists” using unsubstantiated environmental data as their number one means of closing OUR public lands off to anyone that doesn’t agree with their ‘Personal Use’ agenda.
As far as education on the use of the back-country, I agree, but education for all involved.
John’s key questions:
1. How do we educate OHV users?
2. How do we enforce OHV rules?
Perhaps instead of assuming the OHV users are uneducated and the OHV users are breaking the rules, we concentrate on making ALL back-country users aware of the impact they have on the land they are occupying. That includes the guy nailing boards to trees to make a camp, or taking a soapy bath in our mountain lakes and streams, or leaving his/her name on a massive granite boulder with a can of spray paint.
Maybe we need to get back to the ‘Multiple Use’ approach and begin helping each other do what is needed to protect OUR public lands.
Look, I promise to do my part and encourage young OHV enthusiasts to be aware that others are here to enjoy these lands in different ways than myself and to be respectful and tolerant of these folks, but I hope I can expect the same courtesy by the non-motorized enthusiasts.
Dean, you make a good point that many people doing other activities in the backcountry exhibit destructive behavior. I agree that all users need to be informed about how to minimize their impact.
I am part of an extended family of off roaders, and remember the feeling of true exploration of wilderness that Dean refers to. Our family owns several cabins in Johnson Valley and has enjoyed exploring mines, rock hounding, riding our dune buggies to places we have never been and most likely could never be without the light weight fat tired vw powered transporter of the day. I have to admit that due to current events I hold a bitter attitude toward the anti OHV group. The local group called COW has not only succeeded in restricting the use of OUR (Thank you Dean) public land, they have also convinced county supervisors that I should be taxed each time I want to ride on my private land if more than 9 members of the family are there. So I fight the fight and encourage other to do the same. I have spoke to many non-motorized enthusiast some are responsible and concerned with a real solution and some have their special interest personal agenda at the forefront of efforts. So we to do the best we can with what we got and support those organized groups that share our values and concerns. And don’t forget to ride responsible, but RIDE.
I have to deal continually with OHV trespass. Property signs are removed, graffiti sprayed, theft, and beer can/bottles left along the road and trails. They drive in wetlands and stream courses creating erosion and damaging sensitive area’s. Some drivers are intoxicated, belligerent, and armed when I encounter them. They do not respect private property and apparently cannot read. They are the worst type of predator using bullying tactic’s to intimidate. This is typical, “I’m going to run you over!” (They got to talk with the Sheriff Deputies over that one). I’ve had encounters where they bring their vehicles right up to me, inches from my feet and legs. A slip of the clutch or throttle…what inspires this type of behavior frompoeple that drive OHV’s? I spoke with one professional Forester from a local lumber company this year, he said, “We no longer allow OHV access on or through our property due to the type of irresponsible behavior exhibited by this activity.” Our solution in Siskiyou County is to use cell phone, video, stealth, and camera technology to provide trespass information to the Siskiyou County Sheriffs office. Because of our continued effort and those of our neighbors, the Siskiyou County Sheriff and DA have impounded OHV’s and fined trespassers through our efforts of protecting our property. And we cannot thank them enough!
The only way to educate OHV users is to post “No Trespassing” signs on your property, with your county Sheriffs phone number on the sign, write vehicle license numbers down, take video and pictures of the trespass, keep in touch with your neighbors, call trespassers in to the Sheriffs office immediately, California Fish and Game, and call 911 if they become a physical threat to your person. (We have cell phone service which allows us to email the trespassers info to law enforcement in real time.) It is important to be a polite squeaky wheel to your county law enforcement agency to encourage response over time. We have a responsibility to fight for our right as property owners and not allow OHV users to run a muck on private lands intimidate and bully property owners. For those responsible OHV users, thank you. This is not directed to you.
Bill, I’m sorry you and your neighbors are having such difficulty with some OHV users. It’s likely the large majority of OHV users obey the rules, but the ones that don’t can be quite belligerent. I’m glad you are dealing with law enforcement to handle the situation as best as you can.
Hi Dean. You said, “It’s likely the large majority of OHV users obey the rules.”
I’ll rephrase from my experience with off road riders, and as a retired logger,
“the majority of OHV users will obey the rules in the presence of law enforcement.”
The best education for OHV riders that continue to break the law and trespass on private and public parks is to hit them where it hurts, their pocket book.
When their vehicle is impounded, they are fined, and spend the night in the county jail word gets around fast. This is why property owners must be proactive in reporting off road trespass to local law enforcement immediately.
And law enforcement must be proactive in responding to trespass issues.
OHV riders know when they are trespassing, for what ever reason they make a choice to trespass. OHV education works best when large fines and impounding vehicles is the result of their law breaking behavior.
It’s great to see OHV groups like Friends of Giant Rock place education among their priorities. I looked for the education program called “RIDE” on their website, but apparently it is no longer accessible.
I largely agree with Ray’s post of Jan. 2009 when he says:
“The answer is and always will be; Education, Enforcement and realistic Management…Educate yourself and others, support Enforcement and be a part of Management.” This is similar to the mantra of OHV groups that largely are sponsored by the OHV industry. Specifically, they advocate that all solutions to illegal OHV use can be solved via “The Three E’s: Engineering, Education and Enforcement.”
One problem I see, however, is that few local or national OHV groups actively throw their support behind the third “E,” enforcement. They promote primarily self-policing within the OHV community and, at best, reluctantly accept the role of government law enforcement in deterring illegal OHV riding behavior.
A big challenge remains how best to deter illegal riding. Yet OHVs pose a unique challenge that, unlike non-motorized recreationists or slob campers, illegal riders can speed off and disappear out of view within seconds. Thus, pursuit by law enforcement to capture illegal riders is unlikely, even if law enforcement were in the vicinity.
That’s why the partial solution employed by Bill and his neighbors appears helpful as stated in their April 2011 post. That is, they:
1) post “No Trespassing” signs on private property, 2) write vehicle license numbers down, 3) take video and pictures of trespass, 4) keep in touch with their neighbors, and 5) call local authorities immediately about illegal trespass or threatening persons.
A critical step for the success of this approach is the landowner’s ability to identify ownership of the violating vehicle. In California, most ATVs and dirt bikes don’t have license plates. While these OHVs might display the state green sticker, it’s only the size of a credit card and not easily visible as the OHV drives past or speeds away.
The same can be said for OHVs in Oregon and Washington– you can’t read the ID number on the sticker unless you’re standing next to the ATV or dirt bike. And then only if it’s standing still. Nevada is worse, as it does not yet require any type of visible ID on OHVs. Only Arizona requires that OHVs used for recreation on public land display a license plate.
I’m hoping that groups like Friends of Giant Rock and other responsible OHV riding groups will express support for a national visible ID requirement for OHVs riding on federal public lands. Of course, most 4×4 drivers already have state-issued license plates for their street-legal vehicles. So they already meet the requirement.
What’s needed is a method that increases the likelihood of identifying ownership of non-street legal ATVs and dirt bikes if they engage in illegal riding on public lands. In addition, a national standard could serve to allow someone to ride on public lands in other states without the need to purchase temporary stickers or passes.
I’d appreciate any constructive comments or criticisms of this proposal for a national visible ID standard for OHVs accessing public lands. Visible ID could prove to be a partial solution to deterring illegal OHV riding behavior, when coupled with the many noteworthy efforts of OHV groups to educate within their ranks.
Congress explored visible IDs during a June 2008 hearing in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Yet the OHV industry reps that testified didn’t have a good answer to why they could not support a national requirement for visible ID. It seems to me the question is as valid today as it was in 2008.
There’s nothing you can do their just gonna do it t too much money too much power right phone numbers right people we are nothing to them just. dirt wanna buy a house I’ve been fiting this for 5 years no luck beautiful place to live I can’t win with them so I’m just gonna sell my house move
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I have been interviewed several times including the article you refer to in usa today. I spoke for 40 minutes explaining the issues of conflict between neighbors in the morongo basin and how some anti ohv orginizations create this tension intentionally. Nothing I said was printed except a good embassador comment. Its been my experience that the biased media wants to reflect a negative shadow on OHV operations. The answer is and always will be; Education, Enforcement and realistic Management. An answer however is not what the anti groups what. They want total ilimination of our sport, and they will get it if every rider does not get on board. Educate yourself and others, support Enforcement and be a part of Management.
Blaming a rising backlash against OHV use on public lands on a biased media and anti-OHV organizations is more than a little simplistic.
There are plenty of public lands users like myself who aren’t inherently anti-OHV, but I’m growing tired of fearing for my life because some moke wants to catch air off a blind jump on a multi-use trail (including those which run a short distance from my house).
I second your call for OHV users to educate and enforce safe and non-damaging practices among yourselves, but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be working.
The number of violent confrontations is growing, the damage to public lands is increasing, and illegal use of OHVs appears to be out of control.
I’d suggest the industry had better get their hands around this quickly, otherwise “realistic Management” is going to include increasing bans on OHV use.
Blaming “antis” for all the ills of the OHV industry is misleading and places the burden in the wrong place – the backlash against OHV use is not simply the work of some shadowy group of inexplicably “anti-OHV” people.
And John, I might disagree that this whole mess is due to a “small minority” of OHV users. I’m afraid I can’t find the link right now, but several months ago I read an article about OHV-caused destruction in several western areas where two rangers estimated better than a quarter of the OHV use in their respective management areas was illegal (one suggested a percentage nearer 50%).
Perhaps the answer is education, but with a more environmentally conscious administration coming into power – and many accusing the current administration’s appointees of deliberately ignoring the most glaring OHV issues on public lands – I’d suggest the industry had better get to work, and fast.
Tom, I essentially agree with what you say here. And Ray, we definitely agree in general on the need for education and enforcement.
The key questions:
1. How do we educate OHV users? Through publications that target OHV users? Through signboards at staging areas? Through responsible OHV users who discuss rules and etiquette with irresponsible OHV users?
2. How do we enforce OHV rules? It’s not realistic, especially with the current fiscal situation, to expect the national and state governments to fund enforcement officers, certainly not the number of enforcement officers it would take to get any significant coverage of the large expanses of land that OHVs use.
Some good diologue here. I agree that OHV manufacturers need to get involved. Some are coming around with grants and such, but not fast enough for me. I helped form a group called friends of giant rock to address local OHV issues. As a result I learned that two code enforcement officers were added specifically for OHV violations. Their effort of distributing thousands of brochures and personal contacts with riders has been helpful. FOGR has also printed flyers, gone to meetings held forums posted to blogs and supported local law enforcement. I wrote a article in the local paper titled “Off Road Antics” which targeted the illegal and abusive riders. Our members stop on the trails and discuss the problem we face with anyone who will listen. Yet all of this is not enough. FOGR went to Sacramento with an education program called “RIDE” and presented it to state parks director and to county supervisors. That was two years ago, and nothing gets done. We believe it will work for the Education part. You can check it out on our website. The Enforcement part will always be necessary as there will always be the jerks that just don’t care or have serious learning disabilities. A cooperative Management program is also key. A good model would be Utah’s plan that deals with the Moab trail system. How we enforce rules, yes, sorry to say the left hand don’t know what the right hand is doing. Law enforcement, Sheriff, Code Enforcement, BLM, CHP have different interpretations, jurisdictions and priorities when it comes to enforcement of OHV violations. To make maters worse San Bernardino County has developed even more confusing, redundant and discriminatory laws regarding OHV use. (Ordinance 3973) I have a good relationship with law enforcement and still get conflicting answers to a single question. I didn’t mean to blame the media, only to answer Johns question and share my opinion that in my experience they are biased. If I had to put some blame, it would be on parents, who by the way share some responsibility via our RIDE program. Then there is the fact that more riders and less area to ride demand a real OHV management plan. Then there is the money. Green sticker fees that have more that doubled, gas tax allotments part fee’s. Why isn’t the buck being effectively put to work on these problems? Actually there is a lot of good people working both sides of this fence. Who knows? “Could there be a peace?”
John,
Have you seen the large (12″ x 13″, a little over one inch thick) book Titled, THRILLCRAFT, The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation, Ed. by George Wuerthner; Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont, C2007? It is georgeous, with full page photos and lots of text, too. Worth a look, if you haven’t seen it.
One thing that has seemed to me to encourage “problem OHVers” is some of the outrageous commercials that show drivers having the time of their lives bouncing over and tearing up terrain. First came the pioneers, clearing land and building their cabins, then the cities covered so much land with concrete, then some OHVers, at least, seem focused on destroying many of the remaining patches of natural land that were once part of a huge, connected ecosystem. I feel for the land more than for the OHVers. Destroyed habit for native plants, animals and insects is a loss to all of us.
Ray, thanks for sharing more information, including all the work your group is doing. It sounds like you are having some success at educating OHV riders on proper etiquette and following the laws.
Here’s the link to Ray’s group Friends of Giant Rock: http://friendsofgiantrock.com/.
Donna, George Wuerthner’s book sounds like a good one.
There have always been some inconsiderate off roaders. You may have noticed a few problem characters on the road as well, hey? In fact, I’m sure you’ll agree, you can find inconsiderate folks in any activity that involves Human Beings. And I think you’ll agree, there has never been a shortage of chronic complainers either. Complainers who incessantly point out the very worst and embellish even on that. There are those that intentionally make mountains of mole hills to serve a personal aenda. If anyone belives the editorial in USA Today is fair and unbiased, they should Google Phil Klasky and see what they think then.
Thrill craft indeed. One can’t expect burned out flower children to understand the contribution off roading has had in keeping young “hot-rodders” off the streets. Nether, do they credit the hands on opportunity it offers in the development of this nation’s brave young Engineers, Physicists, Scientists and Mechanics in general. When the anti-OHV geniuses succeed in making Poets and Authors of everyone, we will be a very hungry lot.
I see I’m in the minority here as an off-road enthusiast, but I figure I might as well throw my 2 cents in.
First let me just explain, when I say “off-road enthusiast” I mean I enjoy all aspects of the outdoors. From back-country trekking, skiing/snowboarding to snowmobiling and single track bicycling/motorcycling.
What I see in the management of OUR public lands is a threat to an activity I’ve enjoyed for over 40 years. I’d say the first 30 of those years were enjoyed without any persecution. In fact, very rarely did we encounter anyone but an occasional horseback rider or maybe a hiker. Most of the trails were developed by dirt-bikes riding along old logging trails and existing animal trails.
It’s not just the self proclaimed “environmentalist” walking down those trails I see as the threat. It’s the focus of public land management moving from what once was a ‘Multiple Use’ approach to a much narrower minded ‘Personal Use’ agenda. I also see the so called “Management Specialists” using unsubstantiated environmental data as their number one means of closing OUR public lands off to anyone that doesn’t agree with their ‘Personal Use’ agenda.
As far as education on the use of the back-country, I agree, but education for all involved.
John’s key questions:
1. How do we educate OHV users?
2. How do we enforce OHV rules?
Perhaps instead of assuming the OHV users are uneducated and the OHV users are breaking the rules, we concentrate on making ALL back-country users aware of the impact they have on the land they are occupying. That includes the guy nailing boards to trees to make a camp, or taking a soapy bath in our mountain lakes and streams, or leaving his/her name on a massive granite boulder with a can of spray paint.
Maybe we need to get back to the ‘Multiple Use’ approach and begin helping each other do what is needed to protect OUR public lands.
Look, I promise to do my part and encourage young OHV enthusiasts to be aware that others are here to enjoy these lands in different ways than myself and to be respectful and tolerant of these folks, but I hope I can expect the same courtesy by the non-motorized enthusiasts.
Dean, you make a good point that many people doing other activities in the backcountry exhibit destructive behavior. I agree that all users need to be informed about how to minimize their impact.
I am part of an extended family of off roaders, and remember the feeling of true exploration of wilderness that Dean refers to. Our family owns several cabins in Johnson Valley and has enjoyed exploring mines, rock hounding, riding our dune buggies to places we have never been and most likely could never be without the light weight fat tired vw powered transporter of the day. I have to admit that due to current events I hold a bitter attitude toward the anti OHV group. The local group called COW has not only succeeded in restricting the use of OUR (Thank you Dean) public land, they have also convinced county supervisors that I should be taxed each time I want to ride on my private land if more than 9 members of the family are there. So I fight the fight and encourage other to do the same. I have spoke to many non-motorized enthusiast some are responsible and concerned with a real solution and some have their special interest personal agenda at the forefront of efforts. So we to do the best we can with what we got and support those organized groups that share our values and concerns. And don’t forget to ride responsible, but RIDE.
I have to deal continually with OHV trespass. Property signs are removed, graffiti sprayed, theft, and beer can/bottles left along the road and trails. They drive in wetlands and stream courses creating erosion and damaging sensitive area’s. Some drivers are intoxicated, belligerent, and armed when I encounter them. They do not respect private property and apparently cannot read. They are the worst type of predator using bullying tactic’s to intimidate. This is typical, “I’m going to run you over!” (They got to talk with the Sheriff Deputies over that one). I’ve had encounters where they bring their vehicles right up to me, inches from my feet and legs. A slip of the clutch or throttle…what inspires this type of behavior frompoeple that drive OHV’s? I spoke with one professional Forester from a local lumber company this year, he said, “We no longer allow OHV access on or through our property due to the type of irresponsible behavior exhibited by this activity.” Our solution in Siskiyou County is to use cell phone, video, stealth, and camera technology to provide trespass information to the Siskiyou County Sheriffs office. Because of our continued effort and those of our neighbors, the Siskiyou County Sheriff and DA have impounded OHV’s and fined trespassers through our efforts of protecting our property. And we cannot thank them enough!
The only way to educate OHV users is to post “No Trespassing” signs on your property, with your county Sheriffs phone number on the sign, write vehicle license numbers down, take video and pictures of the trespass, keep in touch with your neighbors, call trespassers in to the Sheriffs office immediately, California Fish and Game, and call 911 if they become a physical threat to your person. (We have cell phone service which allows us to email the trespassers info to law enforcement in real time.) It is important to be a polite squeaky wheel to your county law enforcement agency to encourage response over time. We have a responsibility to fight for our right as property owners and not allow OHV users to run a muck on private lands intimidate and bully property owners. For those responsible OHV users, thank you. This is not directed to you.
Bill, I’m sorry you and your neighbors are having such difficulty with some OHV users. It’s likely the large majority of OHV users obey the rules, but the ones that don’t can be quite belligerent. I’m glad you are dealing with law enforcement to handle the situation as best as you can.
Hi Dean. You said, “It’s likely the large majority of OHV users obey the rules.”
I’ll rephrase from my experience with off road riders, and as a retired logger,
“the majority of OHV users will obey the rules in the presence of law enforcement.”
The best education for OHV riders that continue to break the law and trespass on private and public parks is to hit them where it hurts, their pocket book.
When their vehicle is impounded, they are fined, and spend the night in the county jail word gets around fast. This is why property owners must be proactive in reporting off road trespass to local law enforcement immediately.
And law enforcement must be proactive in responding to trespass issues.
OHV riders know when they are trespassing, for what ever reason they make a choice to trespass. OHV education works best when large fines and impounding vehicles is the result of their law breaking behavior.
Thanks Dean for a discussion on this subject.
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Sorry Dean, I meant John Soares comment regarding my last post. Thanks for the discussion.
It’s great to see OHV groups like Friends of Giant Rock place education among their priorities. I looked for the education program called “RIDE” on their website, but apparently it is no longer accessible.
I largely agree with Ray’s post of Jan. 2009 when he says:
“The answer is and always will be; Education, Enforcement and realistic Management…Educate yourself and others, support Enforcement and be a part of Management.” This is similar to the mantra of OHV groups that largely are sponsored by the OHV industry. Specifically, they advocate that all solutions to illegal OHV use can be solved via “The Three E’s: Engineering, Education and Enforcement.”
One problem I see, however, is that few local or national OHV groups actively throw their support behind the third “E,” enforcement. They promote primarily self-policing within the OHV community and, at best, reluctantly accept the role of government law enforcement in deterring illegal OHV riding behavior.
A big challenge remains how best to deter illegal riding. Yet OHVs pose a unique challenge that, unlike non-motorized recreationists or slob campers, illegal riders can speed off and disappear out of view within seconds. Thus, pursuit by law enforcement to capture illegal riders is unlikely, even if law enforcement were in the vicinity.
That’s why the partial solution employed by Bill and his neighbors appears helpful as stated in their April 2011 post. That is, they:
1) post “No Trespassing” signs on private property, 2) write vehicle license numbers down, 3) take video and pictures of trespass, 4) keep in touch with their neighbors, and 5) call local authorities immediately about illegal trespass or threatening persons.
A critical step for the success of this approach is the landowner’s ability to identify ownership of the violating vehicle. In California, most ATVs and dirt bikes don’t have license plates. While these OHVs might display the state green sticker, it’s only the size of a credit card and not easily visible as the OHV drives past or speeds away.
The same can be said for OHVs in Oregon and Washington– you can’t read the ID number on the sticker unless you’re standing next to the ATV or dirt bike. And then only if it’s standing still. Nevada is worse, as it does not yet require any type of visible ID on OHVs. Only Arizona requires that OHVs used for recreation on public land display a license plate.
I’m hoping that groups like Friends of Giant Rock and other responsible OHV riding groups will express support for a national visible ID requirement for OHVs riding on federal public lands. Of course, most 4×4 drivers already have state-issued license plates for their street-legal vehicles. So they already meet the requirement.
What’s needed is a method that increases the likelihood of identifying ownership of non-street legal ATVs and dirt bikes if they engage in illegal riding on public lands. In addition, a national standard could serve to allow someone to ride on public lands in other states without the need to purchase temporary stickers or passes.
I’d appreciate any constructive comments or criticisms of this proposal for a national visible ID standard for OHVs accessing public lands. Visible ID could prove to be a partial solution to deterring illegal OHV riding behavior, when coupled with the many noteworthy efforts of OHV groups to educate within their ranks.
Congress explored visible IDs during a June 2008 hearing in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Yet the OHV industry reps that testified didn’t have a good answer to why they could not support a national requirement for visible ID. It seems to me the question is as valid today as it was in 2008.
There’s nothing you can do their just gonna do it t too much money too much power right phone numbers right people we are nothing to them just. dirt wanna buy a house I’ve been fiting this for 5 years no luck beautiful place to live I can’t win with them so I’m just gonna sell my house move