OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USE

Unlawful use of off-road vehicles is an exploding problem in the Morongo Basin, on both private and public lands. Laws regulating off-road vehicle (ORV) use are misunderstood and under-enforced, and there has been a great deal of confusion, among riders and non-riders alike, about where and how it is legal to ride off-road vehicles in the Morongo Basin.

With under-funding and a lack of coordination among responsible agencies, local residents and property owners established Community ORV Watch (COW) to take on this issue in 2004. COW has made great strides in improving ORV education and enforcement in the Basin.

In 2006 San Bernardino County enacted Ordinance 3973, which clarified restrictions on riding, trespass, and staging and provided increased enforcement. The Ordinance, reaffirmed by the Board of Supervisors in 2007, has had notable success in bringing sanity to the situation of local ORV use. To learn how the Ordinance can help you, see COW's Frequently Asked Questions

MBCA has supported COW since its inception. MBCA is also a founding member of the regional Alliance for Responsible Recreation.

For more information on off-road vehicle issues and what to do if you have a problem, go to www.orvwatch.com.