Missoula, MT - For Now Its a Warning, In The Future a Citation - Missoula County Sheriff's Department officials have turned aroud a number of ATV riders that were attempting to ride in now-illegal areas including the Deep Creek area and Plum Creek. In the past, riders would flock to these areas an dothers in the summer months, but, landscape scientists say the streams and rivers in that area have been trampled and the damage is severe. The areas have been closed off to ATV vehciles. Officials ask that riders do their homework and vstop by local ranger stations to find out where it is legal to ride their ORVs.

According to one official, "It's going to take awhile to get the message out with some citations and law enforcement. We will be telling people that this is not accepted anymore.? The Missoula County Sheriff's Department has stated that within the next few days they will start citing offenders for criminal trespassing and vandalism in some cases.

Black River State Forest ATV trails closes 11 miles of trails - Serious damage has lead to nearly 11 miles of the Black River State Forest ATV trails t a forced closure. The trail will need major repairs before it can reopen. The state forest closed a 10.9-mile section of its ATV trails last week due to excessive standing water and heavy rutting. State environment officials are also concerned with off trail damage to wetlands caused by riders trying to avoid the trail damage and leavig the designated trail. One factor of the damage is the high water tables of the trail along with increased use of the ATV trails. The forest service indicates that the trails are maintained on a regular basis, but the upkeep is an expensive and often ineffective when facing he sizable number of riders that use the trails. The closed section runs north from the Hwy. 54 parking lot to the Clay School Road parking lot and also includes the three-mile spur heading towards Crawford Hills. Riders can still access most of the 200+ miles of trail running through Jackson and Clark Counties and the state forest. The forest service spokesman has said it is critical that ATV riders stay on the trails when riding and that it is illegal to travel off of them.

Forest Lakes, CO To Crack Down on ATVs - Staring this, the La Plata County (Colo) Sheriff's Office will crack down on speeders and ATV riders within the Forest Lakes subdivision north of Bayfield. The Sheriff's Office has reported a very large number of complaints about speeders and ATVs this year in the subdivision.According to the Sheriff's office spokesman, "It is a safety issue."

Kentucky Ranks Close To The Top In ATV Related Deaths - ATV related deaths has been on the rise in the state and, from 2003 to 2006, the state ranked second nationally in ATV related deaths with 142. During that same time frame the state had the most ATV related deaths with those under the age of 21. The state is looking at a number of means by which to reduce ATV related deaths.

Morgan County Commission (WV) Looking To Control ATV Problems - members of the county commission are still unsure how to assist rural areas plagued by unruly ATV riders. During one hearing, things got so out of control that the Commission President had to intervene and remind folks to direct their comments to the commissioners. This problem was first aired in April when a Duckwall Road resident said his rural quality of life was being damaged from folks riding loud ATVs near his home. West Virginia is home to the now-famous Hatfield-McCoy ATV trail system. This is not a problem to be taken lightly. WV politicians and residents embraced the trail system and ATV enthusiasts. If this state has issues over ATVs, look for problems everywhere. Theres a storm a'brewin, as they say in the hollars. Other Duckwall Road residents have stepped up and insist that something needs to be done. According to one residnet,“The problem comes in when you have these riders trying to make as much noise as possible...It’s not a machine issue, it’s an operator issue.” Another resident added, that some riders “go out of their way” to be a problem to residents. Its the same old story, a few give all of us a bad name. We have to stop these idiots from causing us all harm.

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