Sheriff's will be Enforcing Adventure Pass

[WanderingBlues]

I was down in the lower reaches of my home water (skunked and high flows) when I ran across an SBCo Deputy in a 4X4. Asked if I had an Adventure Pass and told him no. He told me they had received federal grant money to start enforcing the program and were going to be getting out in 4x4's and quads.

Now, an this is only my opinion, I think the Pass is BS. It goes towards improvements that make sections of wilderness easily accessible to people who, quite frankly, have no business being there. A paved road to Splinter's Cabin means on weekends it's packed, which means when I'm down there I usually leave with a bag of trash from the creek. In fact today, down by d-hole, I was able to nearly fill a trash bag.

Fortunately, I knew the Deputy and he extended some professional courtesy. I still refuse to buy a Pass, though I usually end up getting my National Park Annual Pass which covers it anyway. Sorry for the rant, but why are county employee's enforcing federal laws? BTW, Brad Burns, the USFS cop in our neck of the woods, and a great guy, is retiring. 2 younger (read gung ho) guys are replacing him. Just an FYI if you are in the SB Mtns.

[midger]

If you were at Devil's Hole, it is actually out of the area that requires the pass. Ironic he didn't know that. Splinter's Cabin trailhead, OTOH, is in an area that does require it. Go figure.

Often times, even those doing patrolling don't know boundaries. I had a warden trying to give me a ticket for fishing barbed in what he said was a barbless area (in Idaho). I told him that the barbless area started above where another river dumped into this one, but he informed me I was wrong and that he had patrolled this area for many years. Long story short, he clipped my flies, went to his rig with his newbie ride along to write the ticket. Came back in about 5 minutes with a good news.\bad news after checking the regulations. Good news--I was right. Barbless started about 5 miles from where I was fishing. Bad news, I would have to retie my flies onto the line.

[fflutterffly]

Better to re-tie, be right and not get a big butt $$$ fine. 'It's good to be King'

[tree catcher]

I always buy the passes. I always get the annual pass and a second vehicle pass. One for the motorcycle and the second for my truck or a vehicle that I could be traveling in. For me it's less hassle to pay for the pass than it is for the ticket.

I was reading one the San Berdo visitors guides and it shows what some of the money goes towards, esp page 17. Lots of litter and for grafitti removal. They also hired a service to clean the portable outhouses and installed new signs and fire rings. As for the first I wish we had hunting seasons on litterbugs and grafitti artists.(not with guns but with cameras, but guns would be quicker) I just prefer my hard earned money go towards things that are benificial to others instead paying to clean up after people that are too ignorant or lazy to do it themselves.

Sean

[WanderingBlues]

I always buy the passes. I always get the annual pass and a second vehicle pass. One for the motorcycle and the second for my truck or a vehicle that I could be traveling in. For me it's less hassle to pay for the pass than it is for the ticket.

I was reading one the San Berdo visitors guides and it shows what some of the money goes towards, esp page 17. Lots of litter and for grafitti removal.
Sean

And there's the rub. The money which goes towards capital improvements makes it easy for car loads to get down there and enjoy the day. Of course, they forget to pack out the diapers, beer cans and bottles, plastic grocery bags, etc. And, nothing like capturing the moment by posing next to your moniker while flashing an MS13 gang sign... (true story)

Sean, next time we are out, you bring the pass and I'll provide the ride And today, while blown out, was absolutely stunning. Hiked below D's Hole to the foot bridge and the temps were perfect.

[Flatsix]

Now, an this is only my opinion, I think the Pass is BS. It goes towards improvements that make sections of wilderness easily accessible to people who, quite frankly, have no business being there. A paved road to Splinter's Cabin means on weekends it's packed, which means when I'm down there I usually leave with a bag of trash from the creek. In fact today, down by d-hole, I was able to nearly fill a trash bag.

I'm 5 minutes from local water and I buy the pass. I personally hope that by buying the pass, we all take some ownership of the areas that it serves. If it is enforced, the pass should logically cut down on the numbers of trash leaving graffiti artists. My bug is that in the past, they sold the pass but half the cars parked in the turnouts didn't have them showing. Lets give the enforcement some time and see if anything changes. I'm for the pass as long as it enforced.

The graffiti and trash tick me off. I don't understand going somewhere beautiful only to spray paint your B.S gang signs all over the rocks and leave diapers and beer bottles stream side. Last Friday, I hike down into an area to fish for an hour and other than the painted rocks it would have been fantastic. Some people are like dogs, they gotta leave their mark for the other dogs I guess. The diaper thing baffles me. Not in a million years would I ever consider changing my kids diaper streamside and then just leave it?????? WTH is wrong with some people.

[midger]

I buy the pass (2 annually) however, living in the midst of a pass area, can honestly say I don't think it does anything constructive, and the majority of the snow players don't have the pass, nor are they ticketed all that often. Plus what's the fine? You have to buy a pass or are on your honor to pay. I asked what the collection rate was and discovered it is very low. Most just tear them up or throw them on the ground--I've seen a couple that I picked up and threw away.

I think it is just more governmental attempt to get $$ in an era of shrinking budgets, but management of the program and creation of a hierarchy will cost more than they actually take in.

As for the diaper thing, I haven't the faintest why they do that. There was one in the parking lot where I work, and the dumpster was 25 feet away. Go figure. slobs will be slobs, but at least the government will take care of them from cradle to grave, and help pay for those diapers.

[Artin]

I think the ticket amount is about 5 bucks if you're not displaying your pass. With that said. I have a pass that I had bought, I forgot to display it and got a ticket. I never sent in the money, and they never perused the matter so......

And the diapers, wow people very ignorant and damaging! They just don't get it. It will never stop because stupid people will never really go away. Since we've pretty much gotten rid of natural selection, they will never go extinct.


Artin

[John Harper]

I still have one from last season, I never scratched off the month or date, so I think it's still good. I didn't see any year printed so I assume they can be used whenever?

Hope to get up there in a couple weeks, sounds like it's beautiful, but I'll remember to bring a trashbag, too.

John

[mtnguru]

... though I usually end up getting my National Park Annual Pass which covers it anyway...

True story?

I get the Annual Pass but with my now recently departed Jeep, was unable to display it for fear of it being gone upon my return. I bought the Adventure Pass to avoid the hassle and placed the sticker portion on my bumper with a heapin' helpin' of super glue. Now that I am the proud new owner of a Toyota Tacoma I'll be able to leave it in the truck....or not buy one at all and just get my annual pass.

Thanks for that nice little tidbit ,

Chris

[FlyinFish]

I parked at a spot once in WA state with my "CA National Forest Pass" and got a ticket. I called and said, what gives? It's a national forest pass and I'm still in the same nation... Well it's broken up by region, so that wouldn't work.

But the thing is, I got a $30 ticket for it, not the $5 cost of the pass fine we get in CA. I was able to buy an annual pass for $50 and fax in a copy to be cleared of the fine. But $30 will get peoples attention a whole lot more than $5.

The cost of enforcing should set the cost of the fine. If it costs a lot to enforce, the people should be fined a lot.

[WanderingBlues]

I pulled this directly from the USFS website. Pretty much all of the Pacific Region (Cleveland, San Gabriel, San Bernardino, etc....) accept the National Parks Annual pass. For $80.00, it's a steal, especially when I consider I'll visit Yosemite, Zion, and the grand canyon at least one a year a piece.

America the Beautiful Interagency Passes - Your National Passports to Adventure
While most of the visitors to the National Forests primarily recreate locally, some visitors who travel extensively appreciate being able to purchase a national pass. The Golden Passports served this purpose until January 1, 2007, when they were replaced by the new America the Beautiful Interagency Passes, which are now accepted nationwide for payment of standard amenity fees. Here locally, almost all locations where the Adventure Pass is required also accept the new Interagency Passes. Additionally, the Interagency Senior and Access Passes are good for a 50% discount on certain expanded amenity fees like campgrounds.

[Papasequoia]

I know this sounds cheap, but back when money was a lot tighter it came in very handy to save a few bucks. I always buy the annual National Parks pass because in any given year I will be visiting at least a couple of parks, and some of them more than once, so it pays off anyway. As an added advantage though, these passes have a hole punch for the month in which you buy it; no matter which day of the month you buy it, it is good until the end of the month the following year. So, I would plan my visit for late in the summer one year, early August for example. My pass was now good until the end of August the following year. That way you can cover two summers of park visitation with one pass.

[Trootfisher]

I was down in the lower reaches of my home water (skunked and high flows) when I ran across an SBCo Deputy in a 4X4. Asked if I had an Adventure Pass and told him no. He told me they had received federal grant money to start enforcing the program and were going to be getting out in 4x4's and quads.

Now, an this is only my opinion, I think the Pass is BS. It goes towards improvements that make sections of wilderness easily accessible to people who, quite frankly, have no business being there. A paved road to Splinter's Cabin means on weekends it's packed, which means when I'm down there I usually leave with a bag of trash from the creek. In fact today, down by d-hole, I was able to nearly fill a trash bag.

.

It's not uncommon for different law enforcement agencies to have cooperative agreements to share jurisdictions.

I always go into the USFS offices and ask to purchase a "parking pass." They say "Oh you mean an Adventure Pass." I say "Let's just call it what it is, and I'll take one please." Because really, the only reason you need the pass is to park on the forest. Theoretically, you could walk or ride your bike to the same areas and trash it anyway, but would only need a pass if you were parking a car. I'd feel slightly better about buying one if they just called it a parking pass.

[Sheriff Joe]

Just to be clear, I will not be enforcing sh*t this season, except minimum requisite # of whiskey pulls. Sheriff out.