ASA INFO MEETING
AUGUST 9, 2008
“Dune Talk, Everything You Need to Know”
“WHAT’ LEGAL! ---- WHAT’S NOT!”
OUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The following questions have been prepared in advance for the panel’s consideration. Their responses will be published on agency websites and in the ASA newsletter. Additional questions from the audience are welcome.
Round Table Participants
Daphne Greene, CA State Parks, OHMVR Division – Moderator
Phil Jenkins, Ca State Parks, OHMVR Division
Mike Boxx, BLM El Centro Field Office
Neil Hamada, BLM El Centro Field Office
Ed Preciado, Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Quinn Palmer, US Border Patrol, El Centro Sector
Ben Vik, US Border Patrol, Yuma Sector
Greg Miller, BLM CA Desert District
CA State Parks
1. Is the Green Sticker program in Calif. going to be supplying any funds to the ISDRA to help keep the fees from going up in price?
2. Do you have to have a Non-resident permit for an Ariz. off road vehicle if you have an Ariz. RV plate mounted to your vehicle? If I do have a Non-resident sticker, is it necessary to have any other paperwork with the off road vehicle?
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
3. Is the ICSO required to patrol the ISDRA?
4. In Calif. is it legal to drive any thing off-road if your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended?
5. What is the status of the secondary permits for towed in vehicles to prove they are exempt from requiring a regular pass and will this continue next year?
6. What is the law at the ISDRA regarding red and blue lights on any off road vehicle?
US Border Patrol
7. When riding in the area at the ISDRA South of I-8 and you accidentally cross the border, what should you do? What is the penalty for crossing the border accidentally?
8. Does the Border Patrol do anything at the ISDRA besides patrolling the border and if so, what?
9. If we see any suspicious activities at the dunes, how do we report it to the Border Patrol?
15. Is the Border Patrol going to be building a fence on the Mexican border thru the dunes?
10. I've seen the Border Patrol riding quads at the dunes with no whips, why wouldn't they have whips and doesn't it put all of us at risk when they don't have whips?
11. What is the best thing we can do to make the Border Patrol's job easier?
10. Is the border clearly marked? How will I know where the border is?
11. What type of documentation do I need to re-enter the United States?
12. Do I have any constitutional rights when I travel to Mexico?
13. What are the dangers associated with cross border traffic and how does that affect my recreational activities?
Bureau of Land Management
And
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
Multiple Agency
Questions
14. What is required by law to have people ride in the back of UTV's (Rhino's, Golf Carts, Side X Side’s) at the ISDRA? Are Golf Carts in this category?
15. Are UTV's regulated by ATV laws/regulations or by laws/regulations relating to sand buggies at ISDRA? Are there laws/regulations that pertain to UTV’s? Is there a difference between laws/regulations in Calif. and Ariz. for UTV's?
16. Are there any age restrictions for driving a UTV off road in Ariz. or Calif.? What are the driving age rules for UTVs? Are the age rules different from golf carts or ATV’s?
17. Are there any distinctions made between golf carts and UTVs? Like engine size etc. Some Golf Carts have replaced high horsepower engines.
18. If I get a ticket at the ISDRA from a BLM ranger is it the same type of ticket that I would get from the Sheriff and do they enforce the same laws at the ISDRA? Are some Federal tickets and others County tickets?
19. Are there any speed limits at the ISDRA?
20. Why isn't the “ten foot” rule being enforced on Gecko Rd. and is there a “ten foot” rule on the road into the Key Hole campground at Buttercup?
21. Does the BLM tow vehicles away if they are left untended in the camping areas at the ISDRA?
22. Are the laws the same in Calif. and Ariz. for minors riding off-road?
23. Is it illegal to swim in the canals at the ISDRA?
24. Is it illegal to fish at the canals at the ISDRA?
25. Is there a law against towing someone on a board or something behind a vehicle or ATV at the ISDRA?
26. What are the laws for the decibel levels of vehicles at the ISDRA? Does it apply only to ATV's or all vehicles? Are the laws the same for Ariz.?
27. If you have an accident at the Dunes, are you required to report to someone?
28. Is a red tail light required at the ISDRA even if you are not riding at night?
29. Is a light required on your whip if you are riding at night?
30. Is a brake light required to be legal at the ISDRA?
31. Are most Calif. off-road regulations the same in Ariz. or Nev.?
32. Are seat belts required to be used on all the seats, front and rear on UTV's, Golf Carts, and Sand cars to be legal when riding off road in Calif. or Ariz.?
33. Is there reciprocity between Calif. and Ariz. regarding street legal ATV’s, UTV’s, and Golf Carts?
34. Is it ever legal to ride double on an ATV in Calif. or Ariz.?
35. Is a spark arrestor required on all off road vehicles? Are they required at the ISDRA? Are they required in Ariz.?
36. If you are riding a motorcycle at the ISDRA off road, are you required to wear a helmet?
37. When the Calif. Green Sticker Program funds an improvement in an area like the ISDRA, does it also continue to provide funds for the maintenance for that project?
38. When is a safety flag, on a whip, eight feet above the ground required at the ISDRA? A whip with a flag doesn’t appear to be required on motor homes or trucks when they are in camping areas but ATV’s are required to have them. Why does a truck need a whip with a flag at the drags near the Gecko Road if it isn’t going out in the dunes? The drags at Gecko are as flat as the camping areas. What is the rule of thumb on when a whip and flag are required?
39. Do Ariz. And Calif. driving and drinking laws apply off-highway? What is the rule on open containers? Can a passenger in my off road vehicle drink while I drive? What about on OHV designated trails at the Cinders near Flagstaff, Ariz.?
Bureau of Land Management
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
40. What is the deal with the gates at the canal Rd. being locked? With discussion about the canal road, how about giving some money for grading to the district if they open the canal road?
41. Are the fees going to go up at the ISDRA next season?
42. Is the BLM required to furnish EMS at the ISDRA? What is the Imperial County responsibility?
43. Why doesn't the BLM extend the road from Roadrunner to Dune Buggy Flats to provide more access to the dunes?
44. If I camp on private property within the ISDRA, do I have to have a permit? If not, do I have to have one to ride at the ISDRA?
45. What changes can we expect at the ISDRA next year? Who will be collecting fees?
46. A BLM Ranger at one of the comp. hills had no whip and when asked about it he said, that he was exempt, isn't it as necessary for the BLM as everybody?
47. If I get a ticket for not having a permit at the Dunes, do I still have to buy a permit? How much is a ticket for not having a permit at the Dunes?
48. How long do I have to get a permit after arriving at the Dunes?
49. What are the extra/new amenities from our ISDRA fees that will be implemented this year? Any plans for grey/black water dumps. Gravel in sandy areas in the camping areas?
50. With the visitation the ISDRA receives, why doesn’t it receive more funding?
51. In Arizona, If the OHV Bill does pass, will the new Indicia Plate ( sticker plate for OHV ) allow me to ride the street in any other state , like my MC plate Did?
Questions on SB 1228
52. Will the California State Park OHV Division be setting up locations for children to take the requited training?
53. Who will pay for this training?
54. How much will it cost?
55. Will any green sticker money be used for this program? If so how much is budgeted for this project?
56. If green sticker money will be allocated to this project what fund will it be coming out of?
57. If green sticker money is allocated to this project why should payees other than ATV registrations pay a portion of this project?
58. Is there a timeline to get the certification done?
59. Will there be grace period for getting the required certification?
60. How much is the fine for not having a certificate?
61. Why do children between the ages of 16 and 17 need to have an adult with them to operate an ATV? They can drive a car on the highway by themselves once they have a driver’s license.
Questions on renewable energy projects in OHV areas
62. How many current OHV areas are going to be affected by renewable energy projects?
63. If OHV areas are lost to renewable energy projects are the project owners required to provide other, equal OHV opportunities?
64. Is the State of California going to provide OHV areas equal in size for any areas lost to renewable energy projects?
65. Is the Federal government going to provide OHV areas equal in size for any areas lost to renewable energy projects?
66. If limited use areas are reclassified as open to allow renewable energy projects why can’t limited use areas be reclassified as open for OHV use?
Questions about the proposed land withdrawal in Johnson Valley
67. Who is working with the Marines on this land withdrawal?
68. Is the California state park OHV Division working to mitigate this loss of OHV area?
69. If this OHV area is taken by the Marines will other now closed areas be opened for OHV use?
70. Do the Marines need to do an EIS to withdraw this land?
71. What other documents do the Marines need to submit to withdraw this land?
72. Are there other areas that the Marines could use instead of the Johnson Valley OHV areas?
73. Could this area be used as an OHV area and occasionally be closed for Marine use?
ISDRA Fee Questions
74. Who will be selling permits for next season?
75. Where will they be available?
76. Can I trade in a weekly permit for a season permit after I have purchased it?
77. If I can’t find a location to purchase a weekly permit on my way to the ISDRA will I still have to pay the $40 for the permit at the ISDRA?
78. Is there going to be grace period to have a permit when I arrive at the ISDRA?
79. Are they going to have the second vehicle permits as they did last season?
80. What is the fine for not having a permit?
81. Where does the money from the fines for not having a permit go?
82. Can I use my seasonal permit for different vehicles that I may drive to the ISDRA?
83. Does BLM expect to have sufficient funding to cover ISDRA operations for the 2008-09 season?
84. Does BLM expect to raise the fee in the near future?
ISDRA Dumpster Questions
85. Why is BLM reducing the number of dumpsters?
86. Please provide a summary of where and when the dumpsters will be located.
87. How much will the 2008-09 dumpster program cost?
88. Will Law Enforcement personal be available to write citations for littering if trash is left on the ground at the dumpsters?
89. Does BLM expect to encounter a shortfall at ISDRA for 2008-09?
90. How much money has been barrowed to underwrite the curtailed dumpster program?
91. What is the source of the loan?
92. Will BLM request a fee increase to pay back the loan if insufficient fee money is collected to pay off the loan?
93. What are the various components of the litter education program?
94. Are there going to be signs put up in the areas where the dumpsters have historically been available or there is reduced amount of service?
95. How is the BLM going to get the word out on what is expected of the duners as far as their trash?