Infested with UTVs?

[RSKY]

A LONG time ago we had problems on property that had Clark's River as the western boundary and Damon Creek as part of the southern boundary. This happened before ATVs and UTVs arrived on the scene. We knew people were putting their trail bikes in at a bridge about a mile south and riding up to Damon Creek and exiting the river up the creek and out onto our property. There was only one spot to get out because of the trees and underbrush. They would exit the creek and ride up the old driveway to the paved road. My dad ignored the tracks until it was explained that they could get hurt on our property and sue him. So we dropped a couple small trees across the trail leading from the creek to the fields. Next weekend the trees were moved and they cut donuts in the knee high popcorn. Flattened maybe a quarter to half acre. Looked like they had ridden down the rows to knock it over. So we dropped some LARGE trees across the trail. Two to three foot diameter trees. That stopped the riders.

RSKY

 

[Jstpssng]

The financial responsibility is an important part of this. I always wonder about the people driving around having insurance. Of course they all have licenses, right?

The clubs carry insurance to protect the landowner. We also have very strong laws protecting the same. No license needed to run a recreational vehice. Many states also require insurance before licensing an RV... a problem I encountered when working in NY because of their no-fault insurance.

 

[Jstpssng]

A LONG time ago we had problems on property that had Clark's River as the western boundary and Damon Creek as part of the southern boundary. This happened before ATVs and UTVs arrived on the scene. We knew people were putting their trail bikes in at a bridge about a mile south and riding up to Damon Creek and exiting the river up the creek and out onto our property. There was only one spot to get out because of the trees and underbrush. They would exit the creek and ride up the old driveway to the paved road. My dad ignored the tracks until it was explained that they could get hurt on our property and sue him. So we dropped a couple small trees across the trail leading from the creek to the fields. Next weekend the trees were moved and they cut donuts in the knee high popcorn. Flattened maybe a quarter to half acre. Looked like they had ridden down the rows to knock it over. So we dropped some LARGE trees across the trail. Two to three foot diameter trees. That stopped the riders.

RSKY

I wouldn't even mess with that. All that I have to do is contact the Warden Service and they take care of it.

If you really want to screw up, get caught on camera tearing a sign down which a game warden has put up.

 

[jjeff]

A LONG time ago we had problems on property that had Clark's River as the western boundary and Damon Creek as part of the southern boundary. This happened before ATVs and UTVs arrived on the scene. We knew people were putting their trail bikes in at a bridge about a mile south and riding up to Damon Creek and exiting the river up the creek and out onto our property. There was only one spot to get out because of the trees and underbrush. They would exit the creek and ride up the old driveway to the paved road. My dad ignored the tracks until it was explained that they could get hurt on our property and sue him. So we dropped a couple small trees across the trail leading from the creek to the fields. Next weekend the trees were moved and they cut donuts in the knee high popcorn. Flattened maybe a quarter to half acre. Looked like they had ridden down the rows to knock it over. So we dropped some LARGE trees across the trail. Two to three foot diameter trees. That stopped the riders.

RSKY

Folks should be able to tell if a tree was felled by a chainsaw to be used as or like a gate on a two track or at least I can.

 

[RSKY]

I wouldn't even mess with that. All that I have to do is contact the Warden Service and they take care of it.

If you really want to screw up, get caught on camera tearing a sign down which a game warden has put up.

This was in the late sixties or early seventies. Not much activity from game wardens, etc. at that time in Kentucky. But you could get in serious trouble for damaging or changing the banks of creeks and rivers. The creek flowed across our property for about a hundred yards with the banks low enough for access for maybe sixty to a hundred feet.

RSKY

 

[jjeff]

Some states allow a non dot certified sxs to be used on public roadways mostly by adding mirrors, turn signals, and windshield wipers. So at the prices folks pay for them l think they start using them like a car going to the grocery store. Which I don't agree with however the inconvenience, time, and money that would need to be spent to get it to a trailhead by trailering when your only a mile or two away, or completely blocking a local business from ATV and snowmobile commerce, wouldn't make sense to me either. Posted enforced speed limits of 25mph and enforcement of noise restrictions on public roadways to get to a trail make sense to me though.

 

[ArlyA]

In my home state, on some state land along the river it was posted "no motor vehicles" and people were driving around the signage and making a mess. I state game warden was getting tired of this and installed a board with spikes a ways into the property. After installing that, someone rolled there truck after a there tire or tires flatted and the operator was killed. I'm confident they didn't have there seat-belt on. The game warden was later changed with manslaughter became he had acted outside of the states direction. So who learned a lesson here?

 

[RSKY]

Folks should be able to tell if a tree was felled by a chainsaw to be used as or like a gate on a two track or at least I can.

You have to be careful felling or removing trees on a riverbank. I believe you can remove one across a stream but not one that has fallen longways to a stream. Or that was the rules seventy years ago. We had problems with the bank being undercut and large trees falling into the creek diverting the water into our field and onto the crops. Some state agency took care of that.

The sheriff in that county was the one that told dad what to do. I was not involved in the conversation but remember dad saying that the trees had to be big enough to be seen from a distance.

RSKY

 

[jjeff]

In my home state, on some state land along the river it was posted "no motor vehicles" and people were driving around the signage and making a mess. I state game warden was getting tired of this and installed a board with spikes a ways into the property. After installing that, someone rolled there truck after a there tire or tires flatted and the operator was killed. I'm confident they didn't have there seat-belt on. The game warden was later changed with manslaughter became he had acted outside of the states direction. So who learned a lesson here?

Hmm sounds like a weekend two track booze cruise I hope folks don't put blame of rutted trails solely on ATVs or a sxs but also include occasional use by a much heavier 4x4 truck or even a Prius lol

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

That's 'required' in the Harley world. Who'd want a Harley that sounds like a Honda?

I sure wouldn’t, that’s why I buy the Honda instead, who would wanna listen to that noise traveling across the United States?

 

[Jstpssng]

I sure wouldn’t, that’s why I buy the Honda instead, who would wanna listen to that noise traveling across the United States?

I've seen riders wearing ear plugs. That should tell them something.

 

[Jchonline]

In CO UTVs are illegal on public roads. I am very happy about that. We had a fire arould my area of CO a few years ago and the USFS shutdown 90% of the UTV/offroad trails for the next 10-20 years for remediation. Im also happy about that!

They like to occassionally zip down the road illegally to a local eatery. I promptly call the sheriff if I see them. Cant stand that noise. These arent local people they are city idiots that have no respect.

 

[ovrszd]

That's 'required' in the Harley world. Who'd want a Harley that sounds like a Honda?

In the Harley world it's "look at me". No requirement whatsoever. Kinda like the kids who think their diesel truck blowing black smoke is a "requirement".

No need for "loud pipes save lives" propaganda.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

I'll give you all a happy story that will pick up your day because it proves there are still respectful teens out there.

We're surrounded by dirt roads, and a group of teens were racing around the dirt roads.

I figured out their pattern and parked my truck in the road and got out to wait for them. They did stop for me. I asked them to remove their helmets and they did.

I told them the truth:
"This gravel is like ball bearings and once you lose traction, there's no way to recover. The problem is you don't even know you've lost traction until you're already sliding. You'll keep sliding until you hit a telephone pole or a concrete head gate in the ditch."

"But there's no place else to ride."

"I know. I hope you can find a place, but you can't go zipping around here."

"Okay."

"You can go ahead and go. Good luck finding a riding spot."

"Thank you."

I have to say, they were very respectful. It was actually a positive exchange.

 

[dmccarty]

Anyone ever here of a snowmobiler getting partially or fully decapitated trying to get across a fence line? I have, I wish no Ill will on a ungrateful hippy millennial driving a Prius down a two track, or a punk driving across someone's including my own property with a overly loud exhaust can. Imho and experience there's a way to learn from mistakes and setting up booby traps to teach someone a "lesson" isn't one of them.

Quite a few years ago now, a land owner in a near by county was having problems with ATVs and dirt bikes running down his road/trail, so he put up a cable across the road. Some riders came down the trail/road in low light and got killed. Sheriff did not prosecute. Have not idea if there was a civil suit.

Seems to come and go but we will have a cluster of UTV and dirt bike deaths, usually from running on, or along public roads. There has not been any deaths in some time, thankfully.

Dirt bikes and UTVs are not just a problem in rural area but they also infest cities. Groups riding UTVs and dirt bikes speed on public roads but some law enforcement agencies are prevented by policy from chasing the offenders. So calling for law enforcement action will not work in some jurisdictions.

 

[Jstpssng]

Quite a few years ago now, a land owner in a near by county was having problems with ATVs and dirt bikes running down his road/trail, so he put up a cable across the road. Some riders came down the trail/road in low light and got killed. Sheriff did not prosecute. Have not idea if there was a civil suit.

Seems to come and go but we will have a cluster of UTV and dirt bike deaths, usually from running on, or along public roads. There has not been any deaths in some time, thankfully.

Dirt bikes and UTVs are not just a problem in rural area but they also infest cities. Groups riding UTVs and dirt bikes speed on public roads but some law enforcement agencies are prevented by policy from chasing the offenders. So calling for law enforcement action will not work in some jurisdictions.

Back in the 70's my father had problems with dirt bikes going down through the field just as he was about to cut the hay. He put up signs every year...every year they ran them over. When they are running down through the mature hay three abreast you know darned well they are just doing it to pi$$ him off.

He talked to the local PD and even gave them names but was told that unless they saw it there was nothing they could do. His reply: "You tell them that we have a lot of woodchucks around here. If they happen to get in the way when I'm shooting there is nothing that I can do."

Dirt bikes stopped immediately.

I remember sitting out on the picnic table having supper a couple of years later when one of the kids went down the road, and gave a smart aleck smile as he went by. He wasn't in the hay though so it didn't matter.

 

[RSKY]

When I was in high school some friends and I frog hunted, a lot. We would spot a pond and knock on the door of the house nearby to ask permission. We would ask if there were any cattle around and the direction of nearby houses so we would know what directions to not shoot. Offer to bring frogs to homeowner. And explain that we used the lowest powered 22 rifle ammo we could get. We were rarely not given permission. Showing respect for the homeowners and their property works.

Once we had a stringer of frogs we would take them to town and trade them for beer at a bootleggers house. Times have changed.

RSKY

 

[5030]

I'll give you all a happy story that will pick up your day because it proves there are still respectful teens out there.

We're surrounded by dirt roads, and a group of teens were racing around the dirt roads.

I figured out their pattern and parked my truck in the road and got out to wait for them. They did stop for me. I asked them to remove their helmets and they did.

I told them the truth:
"This gravel is like ball bearings and once you lose traction, there's no way to recover. The problem is you don't even know you've lost traction until you're already sliding. You'll keep sliding until you hit a telephone pole or a concrete head gate in the ditch."

"But there's no place else to ride."

"I know. I hope you can find a place, but you can't go zipping around here."

"Okay."

"You can go ahead and go. Good luck finding a riding spot."

"Thank you."

I have to say, they were very respectful. It was actually a positive exchange.

Last summer a local teen was hammering on his quad on our gravel road, lost control and gob smacked the guardrail next to the ditch and that was then end of him. Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[Oaktree]

Quite a few years ago now, a land owner in a near by county was having problems with ATVs and dirt bikes running down his road/trail, so he put up a cable across the road. Some riders came down the trail/road in low light and got killed. Sheriff did not prosecute. Have not idea if there was a civil suit.

A cable can put you on thin ice legally unless you make it VERY visible, like tying flagging tape every foot or so, or run it thru a piece of PVC pipe painted some really visible color. I'd imagine it's a legal requirement in many, even most states.

 

[Eagle1]

Philly I believe

https://twitter.com/x/status/1647708113871556608