Forest Service Responds To Traps Set Along Western States Trails
The U.S. Forest Service has investigated four incidents in
which vandals endangered the lives of motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders by
burying spikes along trails used by off-highway vehicles and
others, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The spiked strips, which resemble heavy barbed wire, can cause
flat tires on
motorized vehicles, which could cause loss of control and result in
a crash. The booby traps also threaten the safety of hikers and
horseback riders and even the wildlife that travel along trail
corridors.
Two incidents came to the attention of the AMA in May through AMA
Life Member Jerry Abboud and the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle
Coalition. The AMA then began working with COHVCO and Western
states politicians to ensure this matter was fully
investigated.
In September, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) wrote a letter to
Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell citing concerns about the
dangerous and illegal trail spikes. Bennet's letter was cosigned by
Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Jeff Flake
(R-Ariz.)
Joe
L. Meade, director of recreation, heritage and volunteer resources
at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, responded to the senators on
Dec. 8. He reported that the Forest Service received four reports
in the past five years - two in Colorado and two in Arizona.
"These incidents appear to be random acts that were intended to
target both non-motorized and motorized trail users," Meade wrote.
"We have issued public awareness press releases and have shared the
information with the (U.S.) Bureau of Land Management and other
state and local law enforcement and land management agencies."
Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations, said he
appreciates the Forest Service's full investigation of these
incidents and hopes that the perpetrators can be brought to
justice.
"The people who plant these spikes are
putting at risk the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans,"
Allard said. "We join COHVCO, the Forest Service and other groups
in urging anyone with information about these crimes to come
forward."
In May, the Forest Service provided guidelines for anyone
discovering booby traps in the trails:
- Document the location -- with latitude and longitude, if
available
- While at the site, try to report the device to the nearest
Forest Service office, which can be found here: http://www.fs.fed.us/organization/506
- Follow the Forest Service directions
- If the Forest Service cannot be contacted, conspicuously mark
the site to warn other trail users or carefully remove the
device.
The AMA also requests that information be emailed to grassroots@ama-cycle.org.
Please include the location of the device -- a description of the
device, the date of discovery and any other information deemed
important or appropriate.
Individuals with information about the found booby traps are asked
to leave a message on the Forest Service Law Enforcement Tip Line
at (303) 275-5266.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
