ONF CRACKDOWN

[lswjth2]

  http://www.floridajeepers.net/viewtopic.php?t=24411&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

[logger]

This is the link

Last night, Sat 13, several of us went riding in the south end of ONF. We had agreed to meet on the powerline close to the Cowponds. One of the group had entered the woods at FR 541, making his way to the powerline. The intersection of 541 and the powerlines is all sugar sand, lacking much traction, therefore one has to apply some power to get through here. Lo and behold, a USFS LEO and a Lake County Sheriff Deputy parked at this location pulled him over and issued him a written warning for spinning his tyres in the sand and that if seen doing it again, he would be getting a $500 ticket. As he walked away to his truck, the LEO added that you can only be out here for one hour and a half after sunset and we will be issuing tickets for that offence also. Of course we were all amazed at these developments...since when do we get tickets for spinning wheels in the sand? And what about this hour and a half after sunset deal???

A little later on that evening as we were sitting up on St Francis Hill, a group of trucks came by and one of the vehicle owners told us that he had been given a ticket for being in the woods after an hour and a half after sunset. I can't say for sure whether he got a warning or an actual ticket, I never saw the ticket. However, we decided it was time to move out and promptly left the area.

I did however see the warning ticket issued to our friend and can get more info on the name of the LEO who issued it, if required.

Has anyone else on this board heard of these developments before? Are they serious about riding at night? I've been riding these woods for some 30 years now and have never heard of anything like this. There are no signs indicating any of these "regulations", never saw anything in the papers etc.

Perhaps Jason or Lisa could advise on these new developments? I'll be out there again today and if I see or hear anything, I'll post it up here tomorrow

[logger]

This stinks.. I know they are suppose to beef up the patrols when the new trail system goes in, but these guys are out of control. Let them loose in the sugar sand and see if they can get out without wheel spin. If I was that person being in the woods with a numbered plate, I would think about taking them to court.

[lswjth2]

I still say we need to PROTEST in front of the US fish and wildlife office, the Army core of engineers and lastly end up in tallahasee.It's the only way we will get anything accomplished...

[logger]

If that was me I would fight it in court. It specifically states in a hand out from the Ranger Station in salt springs - on the back page "CAN I RIDE MY ATV ON THE NATIONAL FOREST?" - There are about 5 items checked on one says -LICENSED VEHICLES CAN STILL RIDE OR DRIVE ON NATIONAL FOREST LANDS, DAY OR NIGHT.

The LEO's are in the wrong, and out of control. I say we protest the trail heads the day of the opening for the trails.

[logger]

Found this on Florida Jeepers site

OK then, I just got off the phone to the USFS, talked with LEO Andrews, who, as it turned out, was the officer that issued the warning to our friend. His position is that the kid was just acting over the top with his style of driving, and just wanted to educate him a little. Incidentally, a LEO can issue a ticket for anyone operating a vehicle in a manner deemed to be dangerous, stupid or whatever, doesn't matter whether you are in the sand, in the mud or on a paved road, just like a Deputy can ticket one for dangerous driving etc etc.

On the question of after dark travel in the ONF...as long as you are legal, tagged and insured, there is no ban on being there. Apparently this is how they are going to start getting ATV's out of the St Francis area, particularly the late night partying group that appears on the weekends, coming from Volusia as well as Lake County and causing a lot of damage to the environment.

So, fret not, the woods are still open for night trail rides. However, be prepared for running into the law in various forms....USFS, Lake County, FWC and probably others I don't know about. Hope this cleared up the issues.

4tea6

[Ida_Mann]

REALLY makes me want to save up for an eduro-type cycle.

Id@

[Loven It]

We went out there july 4th weekend last year and that rule was in effect then. Except we were told 1hr before sunset and 1 hour after sunset. I do not think that is new.