Forest Service to Increase Snowmobile Enforcement

This year Inyo National Forest staff plans to increase snowmobile enforcement in areas where the vehicles are not allowed. snowmobile-illegal1Forest Service officials plan to use a plane, along with ground patrols this winter to monitor closed areas for illegal snow machine activity such as designated wilderness areas. Forest Offiicials say that the closures are there to protect the wilderness experience and provide a place for people to get away to, but snowmobile tracks show that many riders venture into these closed areas each season. Riding in a Wilderness or closed area is a Federal and State offense carrying fines up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail, in addition to possible seizure of the snowmobiles. Snowmobiles can be a lot of fun, but with all that speed, it is easy to get yourself into a closed area. Forest Officials says that it is the rider’s responsibility to know where these closed or restricted areas are located and their boundaries. Major winter trailheads and launching points have maps showing these restricted areas...read more