A Guide for Caller's to the Sheriff's Department

Given current conditions, assistance in dealing with lawless OHV activity in the vicinity of your home is more likely from the Sheriff's Dept. than either the BLM or the CHP. None of the three agencies consider unlawful OHV activity to be a high priority, so if you are to gain any benefit from an attempted contact with them it is important that you be willing to take the time and effort to see the call through. This isn't always easy; responses are frequently hours late in arriving or do not come at all, so be prepared for a wait. Deputies aren't always familiar with our community, so once you call it's wise to stay near a phone so you can give further directions as needed. This can be inconvenient, and it's tempting to just let it slide rather than commit to a process that could tie you up for hours, but here's why it's important to make that call:

Contra Costa Times - December 31, 2009 - County thinking of repealing off-roading ordinance

The Bakersfield Californian - January 16, 2009 - Property owners take on illegal off-roaders

Responsible Trails America - Momentum Against Reckless ORV Riding Grows From Coast to Coast

USA Today - December 31, 2008 - Off-road vehicle use fuels tension, violence across US

Hi-Desert Star - February 22, 2008 - Code enforcement officer keeps an eye on off-roaders

Renegade ATV drivers said to be main threat to roadless forests

Hi-Desert Star August 24, 2007 - County keeps off-road rules, with condition

SB Sun - 2/19/07 - Off-road obstacles - Residents seek to safeguard property

Letters to the Hi-Desert Star Editor here and here from 1/17/07 responding to an earlier letter which advocated that the city of Twentynine Palms "should consider being pro offroad and support offroad activities".

LA Times - 4/12/-06 - Off-Road Riders Reined In Again

From the Hi-Desert Star Letters to the Editor:

Historic site deserves attention

Saturday, October 28, 2006 12:26 AM PDT

An historic site in Wonder Valley with old adobe ruins from the Post Homestead and protected sand dunes was vandalized by off-road vehicles. The ruins were run over and the adobe walls were used for target practice. New routes have been cut into sand dunes that are strictly off-limits to ORVs. The vandals ran over barriers and right past "no trespassing" signs.