We received this message from an ORV rider:
Correct me if I am wrong but in your invitation to attend a meeting to complain about “Trespassing on Public Land” – isn’t that a giant oxymoron. How can anyone be accused of trespassing on PUBLIC land.
Your group needs to grow up.
A COW Member responded:
Rider —
You are misinformed if you think that all public lands are open to ORVs. Check with your local office of the Bureau of Land Management (or go their web site) and view maps that how that public lands have different official multi-use designations (no vehicles, no horses, no grazing, restricted ORV routes, etc.) with ORVs limited to designated routes only. The only open area where people can ride wherever they want is in Johnson Valley, not in our communities. Last Thanksgiving there were literally hundreds of ORVs trespassing on public lands off-limits to them.
Almost all of the public lands in the Morongo Basin are off-limits to ORVs. But don’t take our word for it, ask a BLM ranger or the captain or watch commander of the local Sheriffs station. ORVs must stay on designated routes, and stay off private property as well.
Public land is land for all of us, as well as for future generations. Too many riders treat public land as “anything goes” that is not right, and it is illegal trespass on public lands. ORVs are very destructive to the environment and that is why we continue to press for more law enforcement. Too many riders continue to ride where they know they should not go and we need riders like you to find out the facts and inform others on how to ride responsibly and legally.
— COW member