ATVs facing a crackdown

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal Staff Writer | Saturday, June 24, 2006

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CUSTER -- As the number of all-terrain vehicles wandering through the Black Hills National Forest grows, the Forest Service is cracking down on riders who abuse the forest.

A federal judge recently banned a Lead man from the national forest for three years for violating state and federal laws.

“The majority of ATV users are responsible and follow the rules,” Frank Carroll, public affairs officer with the Black Hills National Forest, said.

But there are always those few who ignore the rules, and those numbers are increasing as ATV use grows, Carroll said.

South Dakota has more than 56,000 titled ATVs, according to Debra Hillmer, director of the state Department of Revenue and Regulation. About 7,000 are licensed to travel public roads.

Almost half of the licensed ATVs were sold in an 11-month period from December 2004 to November 2005 when more than 10,000 ATVs were titled by the state, Hillmer said.

On a recent trip to the Black Hills, Hillmer said, she was startled by the numbers of ATVs she saw. “They were everywhere.”

The National Forest covers 1.3 million acres in the Black Hills, which sounds like plenty of room for outdoor recreation, Carroll said.

“But it’s not very much,” he said.

There are 1,000 miles of roads and trails where off-road vehicles are welcome, Carroll said.

Roads and trails are usually closed to protect wildlife or the forest from damage, he said.

Forest Service law officers, with the cooperation of state and local law officers, have increased their efforts to curb illegal activity in the forest, Carroll said.

“It’s becoming increasingly important to protect the public’s resources from damage and from people who operate these increasingly high-tech vehicles that go anywhere they want to go,” Carroll said.

Officers have written 200 more citations for illegal activity in 2006 than they had written by this time last year.

Citations issued on federal lands end up in federal court.

The court is supporting the effort to control off-road abuses, Carroll said.

Last week, two Lead teenagers pleaded guilty to violations committed in Black Hills National Forest.

Joshua P. Geffre, 19, pleaded guilty to underage possession of alcohol and resisting or interfering with a Forest Service law enforcement officer, operating a vehicle in a careless and reckless manner, and failing to stop his ATV when directed to do so by a Forest Service officer.

Geffre served six days in jail before his court appearance. He was ordered to pay fines totaling $1,090 and sentenced to 30 days in jail. Geffre’s sentence was suspended on the condition that he not enter Black Hills National Forest for three years and not operate an ATV for three years.

Geffre’s mother, the registered owner of the ATV, was ordered to sell the ATV or have it locked up in a law enforcement impound yard.

A 17-year-old minor who was riding with Geffre was fined $670.

On June 15, John R. Carlton of Rapid City was found guilty in federal court of operating his ATV on a closed Forest Service road near the Piedmont Fire Trail, according to Carroll. Carlton was fined $235.

Most organized ATV and off-highway groups have done a good job of helping preserve and protect the national forest with clean-up days, fencing and erecting signs, Carroll said.

“We really appreciate that support,” he said.

Taking a safe and legal ATV trek in the national forest simply takes common sense, according to Carroll.

He advised ATV drivers to stay on marked roads and trails and not to ride in meadows and open areas that are not designated for travel.

“And we ask the public that if you see something, say something,” he said.

Carroll recommends taking down license plate numbers and even taking photos of violators and contacting local law enforcement or Forest Service officials.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com