Colorado Panel Extends Off-Road Vehicle Program
DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved $300,000 to extend a pilot program designed to make sure off-highway vehicle users are following state regulations.
State Trails Program Manager Tom Morrissey says that in the first year of the program in 2011, rangers saw little evidence of off-trail damage but did report a need for more trail maintenance. He says officers from Colorado State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management contacted 10,000 riders in problem areas identified by environmental and recreation groups, and fewer than 5 percent were issued warnings or citations -- mostly for failing to comply with vehicle registration requirements.
Commissioner Jim Pribyl says the project shows law-enforcement visibility deters illegal off-trail riding.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
