As a Citizen of these United States and also of WV, I am wondering is anyone can tell me where I may find a copy of the laws that say that I can not ride an ATV in the Monongahela National Forest, but the DNR can?
I was ticketed for riding in the National Forest on Sept. 4, 2004. We, a group of 7 4-wheelers were riding in an area and didn't know when we had entered the MNF. When we were ticketed, we explained that we hadn't seen any signs or posters and were informed that the Forest Service uses a Red paint to mark the areas.
My husband is Color Blind and can't see red. I didn't see any either.
In other parts of the MNF the boundaries are well marked with Signs.
Anyway, does anyone know the exact laws and where I might get a copy of them?
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"Gun Control, means Hitting your Target."
As a Citizen of these United States and a concerned Sportsman, I'm very glad you got ticketed for riding your damn ATVs where you wasn't suppose to be. I get so tired of hearing the horror ATV stories that Hunters have to put up with every year.
As for a copy of the laws ?
Quote:
In the entire National Forest system - covering more than 190 million acres in 155 forests, only 2 forests, the Hoosier in Indiana and the Monongahela in West Virginia, do not allow off-road vehicle use.
As a Citizen of these United States and also of WV, I am wondering is anyone can tell me where I may find a copy of the laws that say that I can not ride an ATV in the Monongahela National Forest, but the DNR can?
I was ticketed for riding in the National Forest on Sept. 4, 2004. We, a group of 7 4-wheelers were riding in an area and didn't know when we had entered the MNF. When we were ticketed, we explained that we hadn't seen any signs or posters and were informed that the Forest Service uses a Red paint to mark the areas.
My husband is Color Blind and can't see red. I didn't see any either.
In other parts of the MNF the boundaries are well marked with Signs.
Anyway, does anyone know the exact laws and where I might get a copy of them?
Fight it fight fight it. Federal law requires you be warned before you can get fined. Red marks are hardly a warning sign. Since your husband is color blind how is he suppose to know. Was anyone in you group handicap? Americans with disabilities might wan't to know.
I fly all the time and I can't tell you when it started but it was a while back. They now go out of their way to let you know the forward door is the cockpit and you will be treaspasing if you make any attemp to enter. I think it was because the first few got out of procescution saying they weren't warned first.
Good luck and I say ride on.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
While I won't take Stealthycat's approach I still agree with him ,
a few bad apples ruined it for the vast majority of ATV riders who do practice courtesy .
I live near a stretch of the Hoosier Natl. , and you have no idea how much more pleasant it is to hunt there without the roar of quads and torn up properties . At other places I've hunted that allow them my hunt always got ruined by them , so I stopped going to those places .
Above all else you're supposed to know and abide by the rules of the Natl. Forest Service properties when using them , they're obviously available and very clear .
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Kevin Haendiges
NAHC Life Member
NRA Member
Wildlife Forever Member
GOA Member
Buckmasters Member
http://hunting-indiana.com
As a Citizen of these United States and also of WV, I am wondering is anyone can tell me where I may find a copy of the laws that say that I can not ride an ATV in the Monongahela National Forest, but the DNR can?
I was ticketed for riding in the National Forest on Sept. 4, 2004. We, a group of 7 4-wheelers were riding in an area and didn't know when we had entered the MNF. When we were ticketed, we explained that we hadn't seen any signs or posters and were informed that the Forest Service uses a Red paint to mark the areas.
My husband is Color Blind and can't see red. I didn't see any either.
In other parts of the MNF the boundaries are well marked with Signs.
Anyway, does anyone know the exact laws and where I might get a copy of them?
The applicable section of law should be noted on the citation you were issued, if not you can ask the magistrate when you go to court. As for the red paint, it is, many times, hard to see/find when you are looking for it but it is still your responsibility to know where you are. The USFS has switched over to using signs on flat fiber glass markers about 3" wide and 6' high in many areas as well, but they seem to dissapear a lot when they become inconvenient to people. ATVs and 4 wheelers have been banned from the National Forests for a long time, but you knew that already or you wouldn't have stated that you didn't notice the paint markers as you were riding. I do question a State Agency writing a ticket for a Federal violation however, so perhaps you were cited for a violation of a State Law which is a good thing because the fines and penalties for a Federal violation are usually quite a bit harsher.
I really do understand how you feel about the ATV's and riding them in the National Forests.
Have you ever considered the fact that it may be the only way I have of enjoying the Forests?
I am not disabled, but, one of the seven who were with us is, he is Paralized from his waist down and can't get deep in the woods without an ATV.
Since my tax dollars as well as yours and his, were spent to buy these lands, I think I should have the option of voting on whether I, or anyone else rides an ATV in the National Forests.
The DNR officers were on ATV's, how is theirs better than mine?
If the rules say " No ATV's" then it should apply to ALL ATV'S not just some ATV's. At least that would be much more fair, than letting the DNR ride and not me.
Also, the trail that we were on, was without a doubt, a "well used" trail.
I used to agree with the No ATV law. Now I am older, can't walk as well as I could when I was young, but still enjoy the Outdoors, as much as I did when I was young.
There should be a middle ground that is available to all of us, with or without ATV's.
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"Gun Control, means Hitting your Target."
Since we have already paid the fine, fighting it is not an option.
Yes, we did have one handicapped person in our group.
As far as the Red Marks to mark the Forest boundaries, we were told it is our responsibility to find out and obey the markers of the boundaries.
I was really most upset about the DNR officers being on the same type of ATV that we were on, my biggest complaint is, If ATV's are illegal, then why are the DNR allowed to ride them?
I feel this is very discrimatory, to those of us who use our ATV's to get around in the woods, not for Riding Fast and Furious.
Thanks for your input, it helps to know a little bit more about these laws and how to fight against them.
I would really like to read the rules that say that the DNR and National Forest Service have the right to ride ATV's in the Forests.
So far, I haven't seen anything that states this, in writing, that is.
I have emailed the Monongahela National Forest office in Elkins, WV, they just tell me that they have this right. I want to read the law, number and all, not just have someone tell me this is what they can do.
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"Gun Control, means Hitting your Target."
I was really most upset about the DNR officers being on the same type of ATV that we were on, my biggest complaint is, If ATV's are illegal, then why are the DNR allowed to ride them?
the laws are written to protect and conserve the national forests, a handfull of dnr officers on atv will have little impact on the forests vs thousands of private citizens riding atv's in the protected areas. i would imagine that atv's are much less expensive for the state to use versus horses etc. just a guess.
I was really most upset about the DNR officers being on the same type of ATV that we were on, my biggest complaint is, If ATV's are illegal, then why are the DNR allowed to ride them?
How do you expect them to catch the atvers that break the law if they arnt on ATVs? run them down? While I understand your complaint about no signs, get off your butt and walk or jog through the woods, instead of riding on a machine. Oh your friend thats handicaped, its cool with me if he rides.
You cannot pull ovr on the interstate - but cops can pull you over. You cannot wave a gun in public - but cops can when they need to. You cannot speed - police can. They are not BETTER than you, but they have special privaleges - that is the way it is.
As for ATV's - I hate them, despise them and would forver ban them in ALL public lands if I could. I sympathize with handicap peoples and would make exceptions to an extent for them, but if you can walk, get your lazy ass up and do it (for hunting purposes). Roads and trails designated for ATV's I've no problems with until the yahoo's go out of bounds. Then I'd just as soon sugar and syrup the tanks as to look at them.
National Forests ban ATV use. When and How?
