ATV riders a growing problem
Dec 26, 2003 | 11:25 AM
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ATV riders a growing problem
Eastern N.C. sheriffs say ATV riders a growing problem
12/25/2003
Associated Press
Tire marks crisscross drainage ditches, rows of crops and farm roads. At one farm, the tracks even show up in a small graveyard.
Those lingering signs of all-terrain vehicles have landowners in several eastern North Carolina counties tired of crop losses and rude riders. Many are now warning trespassing riders to stay away and pressing law enforcement agencies to crack down.
The conflict is likely to get worse after Christmas, when people receive outdoor toys and have no place to play with them.
Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright said his department has received about 200 complaints this year, sometimes two or three a week.
"It's not just four-wheel drives, it's Go Karts and minibikes, too," Cartwright said. "People get them and don't think about where they are going to ride them."
ATVs slice across cotton and soybean fields, leaving rutted paths. Gates or roadblocks often prove futile because riders just go around.
Halifax County farmer Keith F. "Moe" Britt said he tried to accommodate riders near his home in Conway by allowing them to ride on a farm path beside his fields. Riders took a bypass through his cotton after a tree blown over by Hurricane Isabel blocked the path.
"It's pitiful," he said. "If one four-wheeler decides to mess up and ride over the field, the others follow."
Britt, who tends about 800 acres, said ATV riders have increased erosion by riding up and down ditch embankments and by "mudding," or joy riding, through puddles.
"I've even had 'em come into town at night and cut across my yard to get to a canal behind my house," he said.
Britt, 46, said that he's had problems for eight or 10 years but that they seem to have worsened in the past two or three. He said only a fraction of the off-road riders in the area cause trouble, and some have volunteered to help police his land. He's not sure how to deal with those who ignore personal pleas and warnings.
In Wayne County, about a dozen landowners hired Goldsboro attorney L.E. "Trey" Taylor III to send a warning letter to several parents whose children have already been verbally warned about riding on private property.
Taylor said some riders were 9 to 13 years old and a few were "old enough to know better." He said several farmers in northern Wayne County have complained of damaged crops and property.
One resident who has complained of damage declined to discuss the incidents, saying he feared retaliation if he spoke out.
Law enforcement officers say riders are required to have permission from landowners to go on private property. But they acknowledge that pursuing a trespassing case is difficult unless illegal riders are caught in the act.
Authorities often don't have the manpower or equipment to stand guard in private fields.
"We can't drive a Crown Victoria out across a field to catch them," said Capt. Billy Anderson of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
Some say the conflicts are a result of urbanization and the loss of open land to housing. But some, like Britt, say what has been lost is respect for the land and for neighbors.
"I like to see the children and grown-ups riding and having a good time," he said. "I wish they could respect the land so everyone could live in harmony."
http://www.wcnc.com/sharedcontent/AP...D7VLHMN00.html
12/25/2003
Associated Press
Tire marks crisscross drainage ditches, rows of crops and farm roads. At one farm, the tracks even show up in a small graveyard.
Those lingering signs of all-terrain vehicles have landowners in several eastern North Carolina counties tired of crop losses and rude riders. Many are now warning trespassing riders to stay away and pressing law enforcement agencies to crack down.
The conflict is likely to get worse after Christmas, when people receive outdoor toys and have no place to play with them.
Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright said his department has received about 200 complaints this year, sometimes two or three a week.
"It's not just four-wheel drives, it's Go Karts and minibikes, too," Cartwright said. "People get them and don't think about where they are going to ride them."
ATVs slice across cotton and soybean fields, leaving rutted paths. Gates or roadblocks often prove futile because riders just go around.
Halifax County farmer Keith F. "Moe" Britt said he tried to accommodate riders near his home in Conway by allowing them to ride on a farm path beside his fields. Riders took a bypass through his cotton after a tree blown over by Hurricane Isabel blocked the path.
"It's pitiful," he said. "If one four-wheeler decides to mess up and ride over the field, the others follow."
Britt, who tends about 800 acres, said ATV riders have increased erosion by riding up and down ditch embankments and by "mudding," or joy riding, through puddles.
"I've even had 'em come into town at night and cut across my yard to get to a canal behind my house," he said.
Britt, 46, said that he's had problems for eight or 10 years but that they seem to have worsened in the past two or three. He said only a fraction of the off-road riders in the area cause trouble, and some have volunteered to help police his land. He's not sure how to deal with those who ignore personal pleas and warnings.
In Wayne County, about a dozen landowners hired Goldsboro attorney L.E. "Trey" Taylor III to send a warning letter to several parents whose children have already been verbally warned about riding on private property.
Taylor said some riders were 9 to 13 years old and a few were "old enough to know better." He said several farmers in northern Wayne County have complained of damaged crops and property.
One resident who has complained of damage declined to discuss the incidents, saying he feared retaliation if he spoke out.
Law enforcement officers say riders are required to have permission from landowners to go on private property. But they acknowledge that pursuing a trespassing case is difficult unless illegal riders are caught in the act.
Authorities often don't have the manpower or equipment to stand guard in private fields.
"We can't drive a Crown Victoria out across a field to catch them," said Capt. Billy Anderson of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
Some say the conflicts are a result of urbanization and the loss of open land to housing. But some, like Britt, say what has been lost is respect for the land and for neighbors.
"I like to see the children and grown-ups riding and having a good time," he said. "I wish they could respect the land so everyone could live in harmony."
http://www.wcnc.com/sharedcontent/AP...D7VLHMN00.html
Dec 26, 2003 | 02:03 PM
#2
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ATV riders a growing problem
It says 2 things:
1. If we had more places to ride this would not be a problem (which means we have to be responsible and work with the community/and unfortunately the gov to establish legal riding areas in where effective trails are built so that the environment wont me carelessly abused. There is a way everyone can win; unless it is dealing with unreasonable tree-huggers...
2. It only takes a small number of irresponsible riders to screw it up for the rest of us and causes places to be shut downand continues the viscious circle and increases public outrage for ATVs and ATVers.
Wake up, be RESPONSIBLE, or there will be no places to go, ATV sales will drop again and the market will die for sure this time; and you, my irresponsible friends, will have no one to blame but yourselves when its all over. .. Way to go.
1. If we had more places to ride this would not be a problem (which means we have to be responsible and work with the community/and unfortunately the gov to establish legal riding areas in where effective trails are built so that the environment wont me carelessly abused. There is a way everyone can win; unless it is dealing with unreasonable tree-huggers...
2. It only takes a small number of irresponsible riders to screw it up for the rest of us and causes places to be shut downand continues the viscious circle and increases public outrage for ATVs and ATVers.
Wake up, be RESPONSIBLE, or there will be no places to go, ATV sales will drop again and the market will die for sure this time; and you, my irresponsible friends, will have no one to blame but yourselves when its all over. .. Way to go.
Dec 27, 2003 | 02:31 AM
#4
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ATV riders a growing problem
Not only be responsible for yourself but hold others accountable as well!!!!!!!!!!
"Riders took a bypass through his cotton after a tree blown over by Hurricane Isabel blocked the path....Britt, who tends about 800 acres, said ATV riders have increased erosion by riding up and down ditch embankments and by "mudding," or joy riding, through puddles. "
Wonder if any of those riders ever even approached him about ridign across? Why didn't any of the "riders" move the tree?
I can't hold anyone but the stupid riders as accountable for the bad publicity this brings....some people shouldn't be allowed to own a quad!!!!!!
"Riders took a bypass through his cotton after a tree blown over by Hurricane Isabel blocked the path....Britt, who tends about 800 acres, said ATV riders have increased erosion by riding up and down ditch embankments and by "mudding," or joy riding, through puddles. "
Wonder if any of those riders ever even approached him about ridign across? Why didn't any of the "riders" move the tree?
I can't hold anyone but the stupid riders as accountable for the bad publicity this brings....some people shouldn't be allowed to own a quad!!!!!!
Dec 28, 2003 | 02:40 AM
#7
Trailblazer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 66
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ATV riders a growing problem
The people who are doing this are just damn disrespectful and stupid. We had a similar problem about 2 and a half years ago with two kids that were being stupid and had extremely loud machines. They tore ditches up and rode across corn fields like it was nothing. We tried to talk to them and convince them that this was just going to make a bunch of trouble, but they didn't listen and got almost everywhere we had to ride shut down. I was about 16 at the time and was fairly good friends with one of the county sherriffs and his words exactly were "It's not you or your group of friends that use some common sense when you ride the roads that is causing the problem. If those two wouldn't have been idiots on their machines the riding around here could have continued." Those few who were tearing everything up ruined alomost every riding area I had around my town. If they hadn't of moved acorss the state I don't think there would be anywhere at all to ride. If we as a group don't start getting our sh*t together and stopping this from happening we are going to be putting around in a little circle in our garage because the tree huggers will get their way. Oh ya, Crown Victorias can chase atv's across a field, I've seen these two chased across one when I was out having an afternoon ride one day.
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