Hits pretty close to home...


Ritter Signs Bill Tightening Rules For Off-Road Vehicles
Motor Vehicles Prohibited From Using Public Trails Unless Authorized

POSTED: 6:50 am MDT March 21, 2008
DENVER -- Gov. Bill Ritter has signed a bill that tightens the rules for off-road vehicles that allows 250 state officers to enforce laws on federal lands.

The new law (House Bill 1069) prohibits motor vehicles from using public lands, trails, or roads unless it's authorized by a sign or other means.

Violations in designated wilderness areas would carry a $200 fine.

Supporters defeated an amendment that would have made the trails open to use unless they are specifically closed. Instead, people will be given maps to tell them which ones are open, or they could check the signs.

Opponents argued it's wrong to use state funds to enforce laws for the federal government.

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Gene
Mile-Hi Patrol 3
Ghostriders


oIIIIIo
U--o-U

Damn Liberals!!!!!

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08 Asst. Patrol Leader & Treasurer/Trip Planner
07 Patrol Leader

Well, I'm a damn liberal... *shakes fist impotently*

But, I don't see why we'd be using state funds for something federally goverened. :?

I have no problem using the tools at my disposal to find out about trail info, but I think some responsibility should fall on govt to make it more clear about the trails people can/can't go on.

If the map we have is outdated would we still get fined and stuff?

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Mitch Maksin
00 Yellow TJ Sport
4.0L, Man, D30/D35, mostly stock (for now)

It's implied denial of access. Everywhere. Everything is closed unless "we" say so.

It's BS, plain and simple. The onus is on the OHV operator to know which trails (and roads!) are on the out list. And just assume they all are, unless they are marked.

Makes me want to exercise my Second Amendment rights.

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Gene
Mile-Hi Patrol 3
Ghostriders


oIIIIIo
U--o-U

just another politician trying to gain favor with the tree huggers so they can get donations when it comes to reelection time.

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Ken Griepentrog
Ghostriders Patrol 3 member
Black 06 Rubicon Unlimited

That is BS, but that is just a small speck compared to the problem
that will be upon us shortly. You may have heard about this or maybe not, but there is only a short time to GPS and map trails for the forrest
service. The forest sevice calls them GAP trails and if these GAP trails
dont get maped then they will be considered closed or nonexistent.
Which means that if you are caught driving on them you will be considered trespassing and be fined. You can read more about it on
Colorado 4x4.com under Tiger Teams I believe. Ask Jeff about it he will
know more. Hopefully this summer when we or you are out wheeling
you will GPS the trail and store it so it can be downloaded to the forest
service. The number of trails that remain to be maped is staggering.

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Jason Keith
Ghost Riders Patrol 3 Member
81 CJ 5
Comp-Cut & locked

Sounds like we need to go out every weekend. I say lets do it!

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Dan Rafferty
05 Black Unlimited
Ghostriders Patrol 3
MHJC

sounds like I have another reason to get a GPS

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Ken Griepentrog
Ghostriders Patrol 3 member
Black 06 Rubicon Unlimited

This bill really wont affect us 4wheelers! It was blown out of proportion! It was set up for the ATVers and hunters going off the trail during unting season. It will allow other depts to do ticketing. This bill will sunset in 5 years. They will have to introduce it if they want to keep it. They are just testing the waters to see if the offtrail numbers go down. In the Bill it states as other measn for labeling trails so you can use other sources to prove a trail (maps etc).

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08 Asst. Patrol Leader & Treasurer/Trip Planner
07 Patrol Leader

That is true but there is still the gap trail issue to deal with. It was also
mentioned at the parent club meeting last Thursday that the Left Hand
clean up will be happening soon. Hope we as a patrol can make a good
showing this year. I think cory said that there would be 2 dumpsters this year.

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Jason Keith
Ghost Riders Patrol 3 Member
81 CJ 5
Comp-Cut & locked

Very true however, this could prove to be just another nail in the off-roader's coffin. The Liberals (aka Tree Huggers) would love nothing better than to close every trail until we are limited to crawling parking lots.

This goes beyond political realms. I am a Conservative but I am just as concerned for the environment as the Liberal. The difference is that I don't go around humping trees all day long. I want to enjoy what nature has provided us and protect it as well.

This is where off-road education and off-roading etiquette is paramount. This is where MHJC and the Ghost Riders rise above the crowd.

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Marc McEachern
Ghost Riders Patrol Member
Ghost Riders Forum Administrator
Webmaster - www.ghostridersonline.org
MHJC Membership

'89 YJ (still stock... kinda)

Howell FI
Track bars removed
31" BFG KM's

Tug wrote:

the Left Hand clean up will be happening soon

Jason, if I miss the date, let me know. I want to help again this year.

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Marc McEachern
Ghost Riders Patrol Member
Ghost Riders Forum Administrator
Webmaster - www.ghostridersonline.org
MHJC Membership

'89 YJ (still stock... kinda)

Howell FI
Track bars removed
31" BFG KM's

A group of people telling others that they can't use public land for responsible enjoyment doesn't sound very liberal to me. I hate thinking I'm being associated with them (and vice versa) because of my more liberal beliefs. Or conservative democratic beliefs...but, I digress.

Yes, definately about education, etiquette, and copious use of the Whiffle Bat of Get A Clue Please.

I think eating all those plant and soy based products is making their thinking patterns a bit wonky. 8)

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Mitch Maksin
00 Yellow TJ Sport
4.0L, Man, D30/D35, mostly stock (for now)

mitchmak wrote:

A group of people telling others that they can't use public land for responsible enjoyment doesn't sound very liberal to me. I hate thinking I'm being associated with them (and vice versa) because of my more liberal beliefs. Or conservative democratic beliefs...but, I digress. Yes, definately about education, etiquette, and copious use of the Whiffle Bat of Get A Clue Please. I think eating all those plant and soy based products is making their thinking patterns a bit wonky. 8)

Yes, they need more red meat in their diet!

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Marc McEachern
Ghost Riders Patrol Member
Ghost Riders Forum Administrator
Webmaster - www.ghostridersonline.org
MHJC Membership

'89 YJ (still stock... kinda)

Howell FI
Track bars removed
31" BFG KM's

they need to be the red meat in some mountain lions diet

If I am not hurting anything why not just ket me be, I don;t care what you do just leave me alone, it is like the guy at the gas station with a little roller skate on wheels that tried to tell me that I shouldn't be allowed to have my jeep because it was too much of a gas hog, told him where he could put his econo-box and offered to put it there for him, he went away

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Ken Griepentrog
Ghostriders Patrol 3 member
Black 06 Rubicon Unlimited

Yeah. I try to be as open minded as possible and listen to many sides of an issue. But, there're times when I just wanna go: *bop* Shut up.

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Mitch Maksin
00 Yellow TJ Sport
4.0L, Man, D30/D35, mostly stock (for now)