Ive been reading about that terrible cop up there writing tickets for 400$ as "wreckless driving" on pirate. I dont know if its worth going up now. Maybe ice house has less cops?
hmm. thats tempting. read all about ken marcus. Not too stoked about going any more, my rig is totally legal in every way, but I think its not worth the hassle, since if I am seen tow strapping someone back to the main road I will get a 400$ ticket for reckless driving.
Let me start off by saying I don't personally know this LEO, nor have I been present at any of the enforcement actions. But... IMO there are always too sides to every story.
More than likely... the "offenders" were young, their rigs were of questionable legality, alcohol may have been consumed, and they more than likely weren't exactly respectful towards the authority. I have a hard time believing that a LEO would ticket someone who was simply towing another rig. That explanation just doesn't pass the BS test.
I dont think thats the case honestly, but it could be . there are tons of threads on pirate about this, look for the various MET threads and ken marcus threads. He was kicked off his last area and put here. he will probably be kicked off this area eventually, hopefully before next year. I mean getting a ticket for 400$ for hitting a snow bank when snow wheeling? really? that seems crazy.
although Kevin on here is a really really good kid and he got a ticket from the guy.
check out the various MET threads. it could just be a few random cases, who knows but practically sounds like a ticket epidemic up there.
So I've read a few of his antics. Mainly they boil down to a FS LEO pressing the descretionary envelope a bit. He's writing tickets to folks in 2wd vehicles. Now I ask you, do they belong up there in the snow in a 2wd vehicle? Absolutely not. BUT, do they deserve a ticket? Same answer.
What we've got here is a civil servant who's been moved around due to his lack of tackfulness and civilivity towards forest users, ie: the public. A few more letters and his supervisor will move him again. Don't worry, guys like this never last long anywhere.
Was more than 2wd, awd, and 4wd he gives tickets to. I grew up in this area it was completely normal to see FAMILIES up here towing us kids behind less built rigs than we have now on tubes, snow boards, sleds at 40+ mph during the winter. We always drank some beers and had a fire on the side of the road. I got a ticket last yr for towing my kids behind the jeep. What most people are failing to see isnt just that we are being ticketed for driving in snow. Our trails and roads are systematically being shit down. I GREW UP HERE! I continue to live here for my children's benefit. There is NO excuse for this. People this is bigger than KOH, and the recent closing of 90% of our trails. It is an orginized coo by the stinky hippy %*#!s to keep motorized travel out of the forest and THEY are winning. My children and yours will never l know the forest like we did. I fear they will be forced ti wear whole body suites and respirators when and if theygo to the forest in the future. I know there are asshats that make a mess and trash the place but i clean up ALL trash i see in and out of the places i go like many other people i know. It is so sad to see our recreatons taken from us. Not just trails, but roads, camp grounds, guns, and next the air we breath. Im not an extremist just a person who is tired of the simplest of thinga taken from me and my chidren. Blah i hate ranting like this but enough is enough.
I agree with frontman. Its not an issue of garbage or trashing the trail. the way the alleys in downtown are trashed by the homeless, the junkies, and the thiefs is far worse than the occasional weekend wheeler on MET. They will eventually close down MET with this sort of trend line. it seems like they plan on closing down pretty much all 4x4 recreation in eldorado forest if they have their way after all the other 4x4 trails where closed last year. I really just want there to be trails and snow wheeling for future generations like when I finally end up having kids. Because of that a-hole, we skipped MET and went to emigrant gap off 80. probably do cisco grove next weekend. It was fun. We were a solo rig. the group of jeeps coming out was surprised we were going in alone since it was like 330 already. got in by 430ish, played frisbee and snowshoed until 515 got out by 6pm in the dark and got home by 730. some random road, no idea on the name. very fun drive though.
You've got two different topics going here. I'd like it if we just stayed with the cheese d..k that is writing tickets for minor VC violations.
The proper way to handle this guy is NOT to stop using MET. The proper stradegy is to FLOOD MET with users. Send our own message. Have your junk legal and get out there. If your windshield is broke fix it. If you need to zip tie that front plate on. Get legal and get out there. Don't hide from this short, over compensating, over bearing, idiot. (I know he's short because I saw a pic of him on pirate)
Flood the area with users, he tickets thousand of dollars a day, and his supervisors will ignore the complaints. Every state agency is strapped for cash, and will take money where they can get it.
Thats a good question Jon it looks like Tahoe National Forest does not have their Motor Vehicle Use Map published. The only thing I could find is the Foresthill OHV roads are closed. Probably a good idea to contact them just to be sure we are all following the rules. We all know how the greenies love to catch us doing something wrong!!!
