Land use issue references, from the Pirate4x4 forum Options

[Denise]

Here is a link to Pirate4x4 Forums "Land Use Issues" topic.
There are some great website links listed here, and some websites from the dark side.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14359

[59er]

Thanks again!

I've never had a problem with legitimate claim holders crossing our property, but even for them it has to be on the established road. I would never let anybody just drive cross country or make a new shortcut. I had problems with one guy who wanted a second way that was really not a good route, and he went so far as to sue me and and all my neighbors (that's where I got my legal education about R.S. 2477).

It's the kids on ATVs and the rock crawlers that I no longer permit because of all the damage and abuse and lack of respect. The worst offenders are actually the middle-aged adults who should know better. That's the reason for locked gates (claim holders have keys).

Here's another interesting thread on the subject from pirate4x4:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348061

Tread Lightly is an industry organization that is supposed to set a standard for the offroad groups. They have always said that recrational users should get permission before crossing private property, which is just common sense and a value that most of us were brought up with. It is surprising that this standard is now rejected by so many recreational users.

I think that the problem is that many of the recreational offroad users do not know how to determine whether or not a road is public, and they end up assuming that all roads are public. They don't know how to read a map and never think of looking at official county or state records. Because of this, I'm a converted and avid supporter of the Closed-Unless-Posted-Open (CUPO) rule. I think this is a sensible way to protect private property while letting people know which roads are public. I think claim holders can usually get permission to access their claim on roads that are closed to public recreation, and with all the vandalism these days that's a good thing.

I think this problem is going to continue to get worse as more and more people move to western states and buy ATVs and offroad vehicles to tear around on. I think that it is really important for landowners to know and assert their rights.