Okeechobee praire

[jimmyt14]

I know I'm gonna get crap just for posting this buuuuut.....hows the water/mud situation out their?I havent been in awhile and with the rain lately was wondering how much water was out their.
Thanks

[MATT1969]

very dry.

[jimmyt14]

Dam that sucks...i know their gonna be mud out their but I really wanna get in some deep water.

[Turboderf]

Are They Riding Out They ? Last Time We Went Out There We got Chased Out

[quadracer1992]

Are They Riding Out They ? Last Time We Went Out There We got Chased Out

Aparently not from what I have heard.

[jimmyt14]

Are They Riding Out They ? Last Time We Went Out There We got Chased Out

Aparently not from what I have heard.

So your saying they are riding out their?

[KAW3604x4]

There is no riding out there!

[jimmyt14]

Thier is if you own land

[quadracer1992]

oh i thought that you could

[jimmyt14]

I've also heard you can

[MATT1969]

nope,sheriff arresting ANYBODY riding on county roads ,dirt or paved,.there not letting anybody ride out there.

[dirtycruiser]

They can't arrest you if it is legal to ride ATV's on dirt roads in the state of FL. Unless they oppted out and made a law against it. Which I don't see them, out there doing that.  Anyone have some facts on this matter???  My son and his friends are heading out there tomorrow, Sunday to cruise around.

[dirtycruiser]

There are no laws on the books about riding ATV's in or on Lake Okeechobee so the police can only make them up as they want to to suit the mood that they are in. Then you wll have to fight them in court if a ticket is written. Our friend who was out there riding a weekend ago was talking to a wildlife law enforcment officer out on the dry lake bed and he was the one who said that there are no laws about riding out there. He said to be careful and have a good time. He did mention that they were out 15 miles into the dry lakebed. Damn, I want to go! I promised my wife I'd take her jet skiing tomorrow. My son is gonna use my Outlander 800 4x4 and play with about 12 others out there tomorrow.

[jimmyt14]

yeah i was out their today.Their was around 20 people in all out their.We found a couple good holes but it was really dry.As far as I no you can ride out their as long as you stay out of the reservoir and the canals/ditchs.

[Bleedsblue]

They can't arrest you if it is legal to ride ATV's on dirt roads in the state of FL. Unless they oppted out and made a law against it. Which I don't see them, out there doing that.  Anyone have some facts on this matter???  My son and his friends are heading out there tomorrow, Sunday to cruise around.

They did opt out of the law.

[jimmyt14]

The ones who've gotten caught must've been doing somthing stupid or riding where their not soposed to be.The area we ride in their is NO houses and all the people who own land out their also ride.My grandpa has talked with the popo's out their and they said they dont mind you riding AS long as you dont ride in the reservoir or in the canals and of course peoples yards

[BigDog]

Yes...Okeechobee did opt out of the dirt road law.  Having businesses in Okeechobee and attending County Commission meetings I can tell you that the Sheriff is committed to stopping the riding out there.  Just visiting a friends out there for a BBQ last weekend we did see a rider being literally arrested and his bike put into a law enforcement truck, which was a first for me.  I do not know the circumstances, if he had been drinking, was wanted or whatever, but that was the situation and it was on a dirt section without a house nearby.  Even our friend that lives out there will not let us ride from his property anymore, land owners are upset about the destruction and crazyness and are fed up.  He sold his bike and bought an airboat and has to trailer out now for recreation.  Sucks!

[Bleedsblue]

The ones who've gotten caught must've been doing somthing stupid or riding where their not soposed to be.The area we ride in their is NO houses and all the people who own land out their also ride.My grandpa has talked with the popo's out their and they said they dont mind you riding AS long as you dont ride in the reservoir or in the canals and of course peoples yards

You've just been lucky then. I know for a fact that they had a task force patrolling the area looking for anyone on an ATV. Partially from the complaints from home owners that had people riding through at all hours of the night but also due to the trash all over the place. Especially the trash being left behind in the open areas. I have two friends that had got their bikes impounded, one had been given a warning before the other didn't but was riding with him and the officer took both of their bikes. They were doing nothing wrong other than riding ATV's on public land.

Bill

[zeke6973]

While reading some of the posts, I became aware of some misconceptions regarding riding in the Okeechobee prairie, aka Viking Estates in the NW portion of Okeechobee County.  NONE of the land is "public" land.  All the lots are owned by individuals.  In fact, unlike most towns and neighborhoods, each property line extends to the middle of the "Streets", which are not streets at all in that the county does not maintain them.  Each property owner extends to the Coquina Water District "right of way" access to the roads to maintain the canals.  It is the Coquina Water District that maintains the roads just enough to allow them access to the canals.  So, in fact, where ever you ride or park trailers out there you are tresspassing on private property, which is why the Sheriff's department can prevent riding and seize ATVs.  Landowners can legally block off access to the streets whenever they wish, granting "right of way" access to those that require it.
Whle previous posts are correct in that most ATV riders are respectful, there are a few that ruin it for all.  Trash, deliberately doing "donuts" in the streets, thefts, riding near houses late at night and constantly riding up and down the same street in front of a house looking for an "audience" has caused property owners to encourage the Sheriff's department to stop all non property owners from riding there.