Sheriff’s Sergeant Rick Millard told the Morongo Basin MAC and those at its Monday night meeting about the off-highway vehicle enforcement program of the Sheriff’s Department. Reporter Dan Stork says that the resources, methods, and challenges facing law enforcement were described…
Sergeant Millard explained that, given that OHV offenses are generally property crimes and not against people, they are in the lowest priority category for dispatch of deputies. But he asserted, “Ultimately, we absolutely will get to it by hook or crook, one way or another—we will respond to that call.” Responding deputies do an area check and, if they contact an offending rider, will attempt first to educate him or her, and may issue a warning or citation as they judge the rider’s knowledge warrants. They will also refer the case to the OHV team, which Sergeant Millard heads.
The Morongo Basin OHV Enforcement Team was established in 1999. Sergeant Millard and Sergeant Steve Wilson supervise six specially-trained deputies in the use of a pickup, an SUV, a cargo trailer, and street-legal dirt bikes. The team cooperates with the Bureau of Land Management and County Code Enforcement in OHV matters. Sergeant Millard uses a proactive deployment strategy to monitor chronic trouble spots across the Basin, many of which are listed in this story at Z1077fm.com.
Violations for which citations are commonly issued include:
- operating an unregistered motor vehicle on roadway;
- operating an OHV without possessing written permission on private or public property;
- riding without a helmet, or with a passenger, or without a headlight or tail light during darkness;
- riding under the influence;
- and trespassing, where there’s been a verbal or posted notification.
Sergeant Millard urged residents to not be confrontational with riders. Rather, they should note direction of travel, and clothing, helmet and vehicle colors, and call a non-emergency dispatch number, such as 760-366-3781 or 760-245-4211. The sergeant exhorted the audience “We really, really implore you to call. That builds our database, that tells us where the hot spots are. Call us when you see these riders.”
Yucca Valley:
Acoma x Golden Bee;
Joshua Lane x Hardesty
Hardesty x San Andreas
Palomar x Desert Gold
Palomar Ave x Juarez Drive
Twentynine Palms:
Amboy Road x Desert Knoll Avenue
Morongo Road x Samarkand Drive
Samarkand Drive x Encelia Avenue
Morning Drive x Beduoin Avenue
Joshua Tree:
Onaga Trail x Olympic Road
Alturas Drive x Alta Loma Trail
Onaga Trail x Quail Springs Road
Easterly Drive x Sunburst Circle
Sunburst Street x Hilltop Drive
Sunfair Road x Broadway
