Originally this started as a post in the "pet peeves" thread but I decided to start a new one.

I understand that the BLM is there because otherwise it would end up being like a scene out of a Mad Max. However, I decided to make the campfire griping a bit louder and take it to the internet...

Now I realize I am a Glamis rookie compared to some, but I have been making trips out there since I was 16, way back in 1996, so I have "been around the dunes" so to speak.

My friends and I went out to Glamis for the MLK weekend, and I assume every BLM & Forrestry agent in the southwest was out there, along with all of imperial county's sherriffs and highway patrolmen. Being a law abiding (or so I thought) citizen I had no objections, at first. I have a CR250 and also a Raptor that I take out there, the Raptor's first modification was a whip, the CR has never gotten one because it tends to spend more time on its side, upside down, or various other whip snapping positions. This weekend was the first time a Ranger has stopped one of our group for no whip on a dirt bike and rather than giving a warning saying "we are gonna be some **** S.O.B.'s this weekend, so go get a whip" they gave my friend a ticket. It is the law I understand, but I just wanted to stir up some anti-BLM feelings.

Now for the doosey... About the time they started charging use fees for the ISDRA I noticed quite a few new trucks being used by the BLM. I recognize how the BLM's budget works, but wouldn't this money be better spent on IMPROVEMENTS to the ISDRA area, rather than outfitting the rangers with Expeditions, Super Duty's, and (I kid you not) an Excursion. I mean come on, yes they probably get one hell of a deal on their trucks but one of those Expeditions being replaced by a Explorer would save enough money to clean the bathrooms each day and maybe, just maybe, put toilet paper in them.

I pay my Green Sticker Fees, which in part funds the BLM and puts money back into the riding areas, but I still refuse to pay my camping fee if that money is going to be spent on extravagant purchases like high end SUV's. They have buggies and quads, which I understand the need for, the $40,000 trucks, however, I do not.

Other area riders please comment.
Jeff C.

 

Dude
I hear you
they have humvee's at pismo

 

As far as Im concerend. The sherrifs can #^&%$^$%$#&*. Not to mention they are out there in Humvees as well. I forgot to fix my flag after a crash, Went to head out on sand highway and got pulled over. Honest mistake, forgot my flag and offered to go back to camp to fix it, No, i had to get get a ticket for lack of flag (at night no less, like you can see it at night) Called yesterday to see what the no flag fine costs. $135 big ones. I am not paying.. And next time if I even think Im about to get pulled over, well lets just say those pathetic guys on the 400 ex are eating my roost.

RoostKing...

 

Here are a few things that should be reason for a ticket.

People building 4ft deep "berm tracks" and not putting a caution tape around it, at night these things are worse than razorbacks, at least you know to slow down at the top of a dune.

Kids riding at 6:30am who can't shift out of first. "Daddy can I ride your lone star works banshee" "Sure son, just stay in first" 13000 RPM around my campsite after a late night at comp is getting old.

Jeff

 

Personally I think the "whip" is the biggest money making sceem out their. They don't even serve a purpose, I know their supposed to make you more visable, but I have NEVER almost hit someone and said "thank goodness I saw his whip" The only time you get in a dangerous sitiuation is meeting someone at the top of a dune or in tight trails. A Flag doesn't help in either situation. Instead, their should be some rules to dune riding, Like never ride horizontal at the top of a dune,especially when you know people are trying to drag race up the face of the same dune your on. And PLEASE don't let your 8,9,10 yr old ride your performance quad or your 700lb utility quad, they are obliveous to the world around them and could get seriously hurt.

I know this all sounds like common-sense, but I see this happen almost everytime I go to the dunes.

On a good note, I can say that at Little Sahara OK. Over the last 3 years the gate admittion has gone from 5$ to 7$, but their has also been Drastic Improvments on the camp grounds like new bathrooms and showers,and extra clean port-a potties, and even half the camp ground has been Paved(No dust choking you). And the rangers are cool and "still"drive the same trucks they did 3yrs ago.

Biggerisbetter.

 

MLK was my first time at Glamis.The fact there was alot of patrols their did not bother me at all.I think the sameway king raptor dose the less punks out there the better!The one thing that really botherd me really really bad was ALL THE TRASH!!Im really surprised that Glamis is not shut down already.I know one thing for sure if the Oregon dunes were even 1/4 thrashed as Glamis they would close the dunes so fast it would make your head spinn!!!!! sorry! its a little off the subject

 

It has been about 8 years since I have been to glamis (got out of the sport for a while), but last time I actually went to buttercup area of the dunes and I thought it was a little less crowded and a little cleaner.

That has been awhile. But the patrols were driving broncos back then. It is sad to see areas get trashed. If people would just take out what they brought, there would be no problem. Lately I have been riding at little sahara utah and I must say it is pretty clean, except the bathrooms.

I must say I appreciate the presence of the patrols, they tend to help keep the buttheads at bay. No one likes to get a ticket, but it happens. Lets give them a break and hope that our dune areas remain open.

Bat

 

First things first. I Probably should not say (&(^*%* the Rangers. My bad, they are doing a job, one that I hope they continue to do, so we can keep the dunes open( sherrifs on the other hand) should use some common sense and a bit of judgement. I dont think they are under some mandatory sentencing guidelines for offenses that include having a whip that can not be seen at night. I made an honest mistake(if you would have seen my water cooler, you could have determined that I had been in a wreck), one that I offered to correct immediatly. So instead he gives me, a job holding, on vacation, responsible(well maybe!!!!) male a ticket for not having a flag, AT NIGHT FOR CHRISTS SAKE. Although I dont think that flags matter much anyway, if it had been daylight I could be a bit more understanding, but at night they are totally useless. So i get a ticket for $135 dollars. Honestly, is that right?. WOuld you guys just write it off so easily if it were you? I doubt it, but you never know... The "funny" thing is, as he was taking his time to write me the ticket and give me his "I am the law spiel" I saw no less than 3 trucks, with beds full of drunken "young adults" drive by on sand highway... HMMM I guess Me, with no flag,is a bigger safety concern than those 12 '- 13 people in their lifted, drunken 3/4 ton trucks... the saying goes, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY...

RoostKing..

Oh yea, Im still not paying...

 

roostking, I was not saying that they were right in ticketing you.

I agree with most that the flags are pretty useless, but during the day a few times they have saved an accident. I know that it kind of helps me see others and of course I am glad to have one on my wifes bike and sons bike, so I can see them.

I agree with you that there are more important things they could be doing and to ticket you under those circumstances was stupid. A warning is what they should have done. It sounds like you got the guy that says I am the law and has that kind of attitude. Sorry for that and I would probably not pay either.

I wish they would patrol and look for the more serious things like you said and take care of that, those kids make the dunes a miserable expeirience.

Oh, well take care
Bat

 

I totaly agree with you on your ticket they should have known, i mean your wheels were flat for goodness sakes.Ive had 4 tickets already for my exhaust being over 93DB here in Oregon at say 80$ a piece.The only way i can pass this strick rule is to run my stock exhaust and it only passes at 91 DB.Sorry but i will keep using my aftermarket exhaust and hide from the forest rangers until they sneak up on me and give me another ticket. So i know how you feel! They some times go after the easy pickens.Well i hope you get your atv fix and up and running and thanks for riding with me at Glamis.