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The Hi-Desert Star's view: Off-road rift growing deeper
Whether the Hi-Desert has a problem with off-road vehicles in general is a matter of perspective. But one thing is certain: There is a definite problem with aggressive trespassing, property damage and verbal assault - carried out by people who are driving ORVs.
The daily calls to the sheriff's station with complaints of off-road riders, the full-house attendance at last weekend's conference - which was pretty much framed as more anti- than pro-ORV use - and even the record response the Hi-Desert Star received for our online poll on the topic all show the people of the Morongo Basin have strong opinions on off-road riding.
Some of the people fighting ORV abuse in their areas claim riders have caused thousands of dollars in damage, threatened them and purposely targeted their private property.
Then there are the ORV proponents, who say those abusers are part of a small percentage of the many people who enjoy riding off-road. Most, they claim, are doing it legally and courteously.
The problem is, both sides are probably right.
Large signs, route guides and other educational and persuasive tools will always be only a part of the solution. They are viable answers, and must be pursued because they will help to create a culture of awareness in which people self-enforce the laws - or at least the law of common courtesy.
But just as with most crimes, law enforcement is probably the most effective solution. It can't prevent off-road abuses, but at least it can punish those who commit other crimes - trespass, malicious mischief, threats - while driving their off-road vehicles.
More patrollers and stiffer penalties will mean the scofflaw off-roaders can no longer act like barbarians and get away with it.
The problem is the county sheriff's department only has a fraction of the money and personnel it would take to effectively combat off-road abuse - most of which takes place in remote areas, with criminals who are already on their getaway vehicles.
And the Bureau of Land Management has provided even less personnel and resources to curb ORV abuse.
Increasingly it seems the rift is growing between those who do ride ORVs and those who say they are victims of abuse. Soon it may become an unbridgeable chasm.
Money for truly effective enforcement will not be secured overnight. Until it is, both sides of this issue must work even harder to live together and discourage the criminals who happen to ride ORVs and are doing everything they can to dig that chasm between us.
The daily calls to the sheriff's station with complaints of off-road riders, the full-house attendance at last weekend's conference - which was pretty much framed as more anti- than pro-ORV use - and even the record response the Hi-Desert Star received for our online poll on the topic all show the people of the Morongo Basin have strong opinions on off-road riding.
Some of the people fighting ORV abuse in their areas claim riders have caused thousands of dollars in damage, threatened them and purposely targeted their private property.
Then there are the ORV proponents, who say those abusers are part of a small percentage of the many people who enjoy riding off-road. Most, they claim, are doing it legally and courteously.
The problem is, both sides are probably right.
Large signs, route guides and other educational and persuasive tools will always be only a part of the solution. They are viable answers, and must be pursued because they will help to create a culture of awareness in which people self-enforce the laws - or at least the law of common courtesy.
But just as with most crimes, law enforcement is probably the most effective solution. It can't prevent off-road abuses, but at least it can punish those who commit other crimes - trespass, malicious mischief, threats - while driving their off-road vehicles.
More patrollers and stiffer penalties will mean the scofflaw off-roaders can no longer act like barbarians and get away with it.
The problem is the county sheriff's department only has a fraction of the money and personnel it would take to effectively combat off-road abuse - most of which takes place in remote areas, with criminals who are already on their getaway vehicles.
And the Bureau of Land Management has provided even less personnel and resources to curb ORV abuse.
Increasingly it seems the rift is growing between those who do ride ORVs and those who say they are victims of abuse. Soon it may become an unbridgeable chasm.
Money for truly effective enforcement will not be secured overnight. Until it is, both sides of this issue must work even harder to live together and discourage the criminals who happen to ride ORVs and are doing everything they can to dig that chasm between us.
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