Well guys I have some good news for you. I am friends with The secrity Manager that will be running the Security for Dunefest. Thier will be NO searches at the entrys this year. As I said NO searches. But do not get caught with alcohol in the banned areas. thier will be no warnings. You will be told to leave and if you refuse Johnie law will be called and you WILL be arrested.

I have never attended this event but would love to. My job just wont let me get away at that time of year. I have seen video of the old days of wild partying and have heard the grumblings about the last few years events. It looks to me that they are trying to find a happy medium between the two.

Do I agree with the ban on alcohol on the sand? Yes I do. Do I feel we should be able to have a beer or 2 at the end of the day in the campgrounds or the parking lots? Yes I do. But the only way the county and local police will let this event go on is to have the plan the way it is now. They almost put a stop to it with the current plan but some good people stepped up and made this thing happen. These people had to do some serious politicing and made everything work out. At one point they were trying to have a beer garden on the sand by the vendor area. This is one thing they had to give up to have the event.

Yes the actions of a few wild people has caused law enforcement and goverment agencies to crack down on this event. It is time that we, the ATV enthusist, as a whole show them that we can still have a good time with out the rowdyness and the drunken brawls. Show them that we can be responsible. than they will lighten up. We must lead by example and show them that we can bring together all these atv enthusist and not have it turn into wild out of control situation.

 

What do you mean the rules haven't changed. No searches is a change. alcohol in the RV Areas and Salmon Harbor is a small change. Believe it or not I actually agree with you now that you have clearly stated your point about alcohol in the parking lots.

I would like to see this event to be successful and to have it continue year after year. This year looks to be a lot of fun and more activities. .

 

It seems to me if you just boycott the event the other people win. Less turn out means no event for the future. I think you make the event bigger than ever and make your voice heard that your not happy with the rules. This is just my opinion!

 

I would think what I do in my motorhome or in my camp is my business, but what I do in the dunes is everyones...

I don't have any problem with people having a few beers after a great day of riding. I like having family & friends hanging around the BBQ in the evenings having a few beers and a great meal. To have someone tell me I have to keep it alcohol free even in my motorhome is a violation of my rights.......

However I've never been there so I'm not speaking from experience.

 

RXM

You bring up a good point. I've been involved with the major players and trying to ralley a rule change for sometime. I've had people in the meetings when the sand area below the lighthouse to Banshee Hill at Winchester Bay was proposed to be closed. The dune enthusiasts weren't even allowed to talk. The business owners were, and not one of them had a problem with the proposed closure, not even Discovery Point Campground.

I've probably spend well over 100 hours working with the folks that have influence on this event. I wish the rules would have been different. Its too bad that a small number of people can ruin an event on taxpayer land.

I agree with SCOUNDREL, I feel my rights are slowly being taken away. We've seen dune closures, rule changes and now events like this where a man cant even have a beer in the privacy of his own camp. At this point, catering to those events simply make them and thier rule changes more powerfull.

 

DSSleuth,

Two years ago they did not mention that they would be doing searches. They saved that until we got at the event. Last year, they did mention the searches. The only change this year is an omission of if or if not they would do searches. I would like to see a commitment that they will actually NOT have searches this year. I have a 12 year old son, The last thing I want is to have someone search my vehicle, open up every thing in search of something that I may or may not have. This isn't pre-world war II Germany. And If I am carefull to hide a beer, the last thing I want is to get caught in front of my 12 year old son and get kicked out of this event. Why is it wrong to have a beer like I would have if I went to a football game and had a tail gate party? They have thier hobby, why cant I have mine and enjoy it the same way?

There are other places, and other events that I would rather support and go to. I would like my son to experience the trust of our government and the responsiblity of law abiding citizens and the benefit of riding on the dunes. Anything less, is simply not worth it to me.

 

MKBAJA,

This is the same old knee-jerk reaction that we get from our government. Instead of taking care of the real problem, they do some sort of mass rule change.

The problem is the locals - thats why all the political efforts went into making changes and in the end there were no real changes. Look, they had a beer garden two years ago - there were no problems. Why do you think they dont have them now? The locals! They dont want any event there. Dude, dunefest is in the wrong location. I keep saying that but very few are hearing me. If you want to get the real picture, go to dunefest, talk to the locals and form your own opinion. In my book, its in the wrong place. The sponsors will have more turnout in a place that welcomes ATVers.

 

Now I'm not saying I agree with the rule, just that I see "part" of the reasoning behind it. I don't give a rats a$$ if people drink in their camp or wherever. As long as they don't go out and ride or drive.
I don't care if they do searches or not. If they make people aware of the rules, and they decide to break them and get caught, then sure go ahead and kick them out. They made a conscious decision to break the rules, so buck up and take the consequences.

The old saying that a few people can screw it up for everybody rings true.
For the most part they probably don't care about the folks that have a beer or two,or three, or etc. at the end of the day, or in their motorhome.
It's the morons that are not responsible that are the problem, and they are a problem for everybody.
Those morons that drink and then go out riding, of which there are many. I've seen it a few times.
They put everybody out riding at risk, not just themselves. They do wreck, and they do hurt themselves and others.
With the rules, they just make it a bit safer for everybody. You (meaning anybody) don't have to agree, but rules that make it safer are hard to argue with.
Especially at huge events like Dunefest.
take the locals out of it, and it still makes sense.

Unfortunately Rules and Laws are made to protect the majority from the minority.
I don't agree with them all, and don't like it when things get taken away from me.
But you just have to deal with it sometimes. If you don't agree with them, try to do something to change it.

Rules are rules, PERIOD. We don't have to agree, or even like them. But we need to follow them.
Breaking the rules is no way to try and change them, just strengthens the argument for them.

If somebody doesn't want to get busted in front of their kids, THEN DON'T DO IT. No brainer there.
How can you ever teach or tell your kids to not break the rules/laws if you do it, even if you don't get caught??
What does that teach them??? Kind of hyporcritcal isn't it??? If we teach kids to disrespect and disregard the rules/laws they don't like, society will even get worse.

Anyway, you guys all have some good points. Good to have discussions like this.
Even though not everybody will always agree, discussions and seeing others persepective is always interesting.

 

Quad4Fun,

Thanks for your input, there are probably a lot of people that agree with you 100%. Im an old duner, and I believe one of the best things about the dunes is the lack of politics. So for me, that kind of a comprimise just wont work for me. Many of us on both sides, and in the middle, have been involved. Its not mearly dunefest rules, its the sestemic closures, increased fees, and lack of patrols that makes us wonder what is really going on. As riders, we pour a lot of money into camping fees, day use fees, off road stickers, registration and taxes, and we see this sort thing happen. Its just too bad that all the money that is supposed to be spent on the dunes, actually goes somewhere else instead like paving a road or building a bridge 500 miles away. I can tell you the only reason why dune fest is allowed at all is because the government is getting a cut of the things sold there - Im not talking regular taxes either.

If I knew that these rule changes would actually stabilize our sport, I would be on board 100%. Based on my history and extensive experience in these matters, these rule changes at dunefest are simply a guage to see if the public will support similar changes elsewhere. Therefore, I cannot support them.

I wish the local government and the Forest Service would see the light and actually use the fees generated to enforce the rules that are already in place instead of using it to fund shortfalls elsewhere. Its not alcohol in a parking lot that kills, the real crime here is the lack of patrols to keep the idiots off the dunes. It doesnt take much to keep a drunk rider off the dunes - one mistake they should impound that riders quad and make it really expensive to get it back out. You and I both know those idiots are usually younger than 20 years old, and simply dont have the funds to keep screwing up.

 

Motorcoach/RV Camping – Campsite A on Triangle Road - SOLD OUT
Motorcoach/RV Camping – Campsite B in New County Campground - SOLD OUT