With the long Thanksgiving holiday coming up, many residents and visitors will be out riding their off-highway vehicles in the desert. Sheriff’s Safety Specialist Anita Northcutt has these reminders for off-highway enthusiasts…
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Morongo Basin Station, would like to remind OHV enthusiasts of some safety laws regarding OHV use in the Morongo Basin. Off-road rules apply to all vehicles driven on public lands legally open to vehicle use. Public lands include fire trails, service roads, and other rough graded trails and roads. Rules and laws which apply to regular road use are the same for off-road use. Helmets are required when riding a motorcycle or ATV or a recreational off-highway vehicle with an engine of 1000 cc or less. When riding a motorcycle or ATV, riders cannot carry a passenger. When operated at night, vehicles must have a headlamp that reveals objects at 200 feet. Vehicles must be equipped with operational brakes, operational pollution control devices, an adequate muffler, and spark arrestor.
…This holiday weekend, the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station will have OHV patrol units out meeting with riders and campers, educating them, and issuing citations if necessary. if you drink, DO NOT ride. If you need to report OHV violations, please contact Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-956-5001.
