Fat Assed ATVer's assualt BLM LEO's

[Nemont]

I thought all the ATV supports said that 90% of all riders obey the law. Looks like they don't even come close to that percentage.

BLM rangers pelted with eggs at Sand Mt. over weekend

Three major accidents, two arrests and personal attacks on Bureau of Land Management rangers marred the weekend at Sand Mountain, 30 miles east of Fallon.

A BLM official estimated there were 2,500 people at the popular off-road recreation area between Thursday and Sunday.

Elayn Briggs, associate field manager for the BLM, said extra park rangers were sent to Sand Mt. after raw eggs were thrown at rangers enforcing the law and at their vehicles. The egg-throwing occurred Thursday night, Briggs said. On Friday, there were eight rangers patrolling the area.

On Saturday night, someone threw a rock at a BLM vehicle, breaking out a window.

A sign at the Pony Express Station nearby was also chopped down and stolen.

Briggs said there have been verbal confrontations between law enforcement and campers in the past but rangers had not been physically targeted like they were over the weekend.

"I don't know that the crowd was more unruly but we had incidents we hadn't experienced before. We never had eggs thrown at us," Briggs said. "I wouldn't say the crowd was more unruly than normal."

Careflight was called to three "major medicals" that were described as serious by Briggs. One of the victims refused to be airlifted just as the helicopter was preparing to land, she added.

Churchill County Sheriff Richard Ingram said the county responded to a total of six requests for ambulances between 11 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Sunday.

At least one minor was arrested by the Churchill County Sheriff's Office for alcohol violations. An adult was taken into custody on suspicion of violating probation because he was consuming alcohol, said Briggs.

"Law enforcement issued about 100 warnings and 50 citations," said Brings.

Citations are issued for violations such as open container, failure to pay entrance fees, riding without a whip flag, riding without headlights and tail lights at night, possessing glass containers and trashy campsites.

Briggs said the BLM will be exploring a hike in fees at Sand Mountain and possibly limiting the number of campers next year. She said the public will have plenty of time to comment on any proposed changes before they are implemented.

Currently, campers pay $20 to stay up to a week. A $45 annual pass is also available.

"The BLM is facing budget problems and the fees are not nearly enough manage it by providing law enforcement, emergency medical, road grading, restrooms and dumping the trash," said Briggs. "The fees don't begin to cover it appropriately.

"We'll be looking to increase the fees next year and look at the carrying capacity - how many people that area can sustain. We'll be looking for public input on that."

On Memorial Day and Labor Day, up to 5,000 people have camped at Sand Mountain in the past, according to Briggs.

 

[guppie9]

Not to be a smart ass, but...

A BLM official estimated there were 2,500 people at the popular off-road recreation area between Thursday and Sunday.

Law enforcement issued about 100 warnings and 50 citations," said Brings

Let's see....2500 people and 150 warnings/citations equals a 6% violation rate. So I guess that means that 94% of the ATV'ers were doing the right thing!!!

 

[MattK]

Yeah- only 6% bad apples that threw raw eggs and had verbal confrontations with LEO's and this is an area where they are allowed! There were 8 LEO's to give out 150 citations, that's what about 20 tickets given by each LEO. Just think if there was more law enforcement and they caught the people throwing the eggs.

 

[cjcj]

Sounds like you guys need Sherriff JOE!

 

[BuzzH]

I think this is great...just another step to the fat-asses being locked out of all public lands...which is exactly where they're headed, with their thumbs glued to the throttle.