Forest Lake off-trail

[sixstringsteve]

I wheel/hike/mountain bike/dirt bike/camp so I can be in nature. Little moab has some great wheeling, but for the most part, I'll pick a scenic trail over a rock pile any day. I am an environmentalist in the sense that I care about our environment. I believe in reasonably taking care of nature. Everyone is at some point on the environmentalist scale. On one end you have people who think it's ok to dump their used oil in the nearby stream, and on the other end of the spectrum you'll find people who think that lawn mowers should be outlawed because they cause too much pollution. It's the nut-jobs who have given the term "environmentalist" a bad name.

I have a coworker at work who thinks that since I drive offroad I don't care about nature. I told him about all the service projects I've helped improve our parks with, and he was shocked and said "so you do care about the environment?" I said "absolutely, that's why I'm up there every weekend." It was a definite paradigm shift to him. He thought that the only people who care about picking up trash, putting out campfires when you leave, staying on trail, etc were hikers. I really like how U4 has taken a more pro-environment/access approach rather than an anti-SUWA approach. I think the more we can help non-wheelers realize that we do care about our native surroundings, the more people will start to see us as a force for good rather than rednecks that drive over trees, leave our trash behind, and bushwhack to find the next mud puddle.

 

[SAMI]

I think the fines for driving off of trails should be massive. No more slaps on the wrist.. $2,500 and possibly confiscate the vehicle used.

Hit the SOB's where it hurts, and hard. Word spreads, and the thought of a heavy fine and losing your truck/atv deters folks from going off trail.

 

[jeeper]

I think the fines for driving off of trails should be massive. No more slaps on the wrist.. $2,500 and possibly confiscate the vehicle used.

Hit the SOB's where it hurts, and hard. Word spreads, and the thought of a heavy fine and losing your truck/atv deters folks from going off trail.

What good does a fine do? It simply gives the government more money. It doesn't benefit the people, or lands that are damaged. Instead of hefty fines, how about hefty service hours. Let those responsible for the damage be the ones to repair it. from rebuilding fences, to filling holes, to trash clean up etc. This would by far be a greater teaching tool, and then the lands would also be better maintained.

 

[sixstringsteve]

a fine could pay for materials like signage, fencing, tools, safety glasses, etc.

I agree that community service would be ideal, but the FS doesn't have the resources, money, time, or manpower to organize that sort of thing. It's much easier to pay a secretary to mail out citations from a desk.

 

[jeeper]

It's much easier to pay a secretary to mail out citations from a desk.

^^This is the real problem..

The government is currently set up to benefit from crime, and not to prevent or control it. Every one else involved loses.

 

[jeeper]

a fine could pay for materials like signage, fencing, tools, safety glasses, etc.

This is why we pay entrance fees

 

[sixstringsteve]

a $2500 fine would definitely make people think twice about driving off-trail. Where I lived in CA, there was a $1000 fine for littering on the freeway. Guess what? People didn't litter. If there were signs that said "no driving in the lake, $5000 fine", I guarantee we'd have fewer people driving through it.

 

[JL Rockies]

A $5000 fine and a $1000 reward for infomation leading to arrest.

 

[ret32]

I think the fines for driving off of trails should be massive. No more slaps on the wrist.. $2,500 and possibly confiscate the vehicle used.

Hit the SOB's where it hurts, and hard. Word spreads, and the thought of a heavy fine and losing your truck/atv deters folks from going off trail.

a $2500 fine would definitely make people think twice about driving off-trail. Where I lived in CA, there was a $1000 fine for littering on the freeway. Guess what? People didn't litter. If there were signs that said "no driving in the lake, $5000 fine", I guarantee we'd have fewer people driving through it.

I agree. Make the punishment match the magnitude of the crime. If the potential consequences of the crime are eventual trail closure, affecting thousands of visitors per year. I'd say that's pretty severe. I'll bring it up with the PG Ranger district, but I doubt that's the direction they want to go.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I don't want to be a trail/fine nazi, I just want everyone to stay on the trail so our trails are open for many years to come.

 

[SAMI]

Obviously where the money from a fine goes would determine my support level. If the money went to signage, building materials for maintenance, and education via flyers, pamphlets, website, mobile app??

A hefty fine with money backing up the aforementioned area would kick ass. Heavy, heavy fine.. First few people to test it are made examples of and the word spreads.

 

[TeraFlex]

It has recently been brought (again) to our attention about this incident.
At the time we did not comment publicly on this, but will do so now.


The Jeep in question (as we believe it to be) is not, and never was owned by TeraFlex or one of our employees. It received a large TeraFlex graphic prior to being used at a large aftermarket automotive show. This particular individual is not involved with TeraFlex in any capacity other than being a customer from 2008.


We do not have any tolerance for irresponsible four wheeling and attempt to educate all of our employees and customers the principles of proper land stewardship, and encourage everyone to participate in and become involved in the maintenance and preservation of our public lands.
As such, TeraFlex has been a proud sponsor of the Utah Four Wheel Drive Association, and Tread Lightly! for several years.


As always, if you see anything that you are concerned about (especially if it has the potential to involve a TeraFlex company or employee vehicle) please bring it to our attention. Take a photo if possible and include the location and date. We definitely feel that because of our position in the industry we should be held to a higher standard. This position fits our mission statement, and we only want to be known as the best company out there.


If anyone has any questions, please feel free to call us directly at 801-288-2585.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Class act Teraflex, I would expect nothing less. You guys are great.

 

[Kevin B.]

x2!

 

[TurboMinivan]

What exact part(s) of this photo are off trail?

 

[Kevin B.]

What exact part(s) of this photo are off trail?

Some of those logs aren't there anymore, but they delineate the boundary. There's carsonite posts too.