In the past year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Santa Clarita Valley Station has received over 1000 phone calls from angry residents complaining about illegal off-highway vehicle (or OHV) activity. The station can only respond by dispatching patrol cars. However, on most occasions, “Deputies are unable to contact the offenders due to the rugged terrain and lack of off-road capabilities.”
The OHV activity has caused extensive damage to the natural habitat, severe erosion problems in the rural areas and a loss of tranquility in the foothill and equestrian zones. Due to a lack of funding, the sheriff’s station has been unable to enforce the, “Tread Lightly,” principles, and without protection the natural landscape of the terrain in Santa Clarita could be irreversibly harmed.
However, the Board of Supervisors recently approved a $150,000 grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the Sheriff’s Department Off-Highway Vehicle Enforcement Teams. With these grant funds, the sheriff’s station will be able to launch extremely effective OHV enforcement operations, outfit all new and current team members with updated personal safety protection equipment and maintain all team motorcycles and four-by-four vehicles.
The majority of the grant funds will be used to, “educate the OHV enthusiasts and the general public regarding safe and courteous riding practices”. Additionally, deputies will inform civilians of the legal riding areas and the laws related to OHV activity. Those who intentionally choose to break these laws will now be more easily apprehended and cited.
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich believes that, “This grant will provide the Sheriff with the tools necessary to reduce Off-Highway Vehicle offenses and protect our county’s natural resources”.