Trail Takeover

TRAIL TAKEOVER

TIRED OF MISCREANTS trashing "your" trails? Think environmental extremists are over the top? Well, the situation may soon change, and likely for the better.

This past March, Colorado Representative Scott Mclnnis, chairman of the House Sub committee on Forests and Forest Health, introduced legislation intended to bolster enforcement laws on public lands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service.

The "Consistent Public Lands Enforcement Act of 2002" would increase penalties for those who "knowingly and will fully" cause damage to federal lands, and create standards across all agencies. Currently, fines and enforcement powers vary among the three agencies.

"Some extreme environmen talists have argued that the only way to protect our public lands was to close them to the public," said Larry Smith, executive di rector of Americans for Respon sible Recreational Access. "Havi~ig consistent and signifi cant penalties for irresponsible behavior or abuse will give our land-management professionals

a powerful enforcement tool to protect our irreplaceable public lands, as well as encourage re sponsible use so all Americans can enjoy their natural heritage."

The AMA has endorsed the legislation. "Too often, respon sible riders are denied access to riding areas because of the ac tions of a few," said Patrick Holtz, an AMA legislative as sistant in Washington, D.C. "The agencies use the lack of tough penalties as an excuse to shut down areas to riding. This legislation will allow our feder al agencies to punish those who break the law and leave the rest of us to enjoy our riding areas."

Other legislation currently being considered in Congress reportedly targets only motorized vehicle users-bicyclists, campers, hikers, horse riders, etc. are ex empt-and doesn't provide for consistent penalties among the three federal agencies. So, in the end, who will win? Hopefully, everyone. -Matthew Miles