New Colorado Offroad Law signed

[5280FJ]

Interesting note I heard on the radio today, so I checked it out. Our Gov Ritter just signed a new law that changes Colorado law from it being unlawful to offroad where it was posted as prohibited, to being unlawful to offroad UNLESS it is posted as PERMITTED. Also of note is the law is only in effect for 5 years...

See Montrose paper article:

http://www.montrosepress.com/article...8879334716.txt

I had not heard a word about this anywhere.

Comments???

[shane4x4]

That's crap, should be fairly unenforceable though

[uphill]

It sounds unconstitutional.

[RockyMtnHigh]

5280FJ previously said:

Comments???

They're not going to be happy until we're standing behind a chain link fence looking at the mountains.

[shane4x4]

Of course, that law should only apply to state lands, not federal. Luckily(?) most of the trails we hit are BLM or national forest

[5280FJ]

shane4x4 previously said:

Of course, that law should only apply to state lands, not federal. Luckily(?) most of the trails we hit are BLM or national forest

The article states that local/state authorities can ticket you on federal lands, due to lack of funds/enforcement people at the Fed level.

[Sky]

shane4x4 previously said:

That's crap, should be fairly unenforceable though

I think the law may actually help by stopping those people that think they can go anywhere (creating new trails, damaging tundra or trees, etc.) and provide ammunition to those who believe off-roading should be prohibited everywhere. If everyone practiced the tread-lightly principles, there would not be a need for a law like this.

[fjcruzer123]

"• Peace officers must exercise “substantial discretion” in carrying out enforcement until land management agencies identify permitted routes."

Know and be able to articulate where you are. I'd bet the majority of the enforcement will be based on complaints rather than random patrol enforcement. Neither Federal nor local authorities have the manpower. That and the burden of signing everything AGAIN... (wonder who got that contract...)

All-in-all, still an effort to protect lands, so it's okay by me.

[spincycle]

fjcruzer123 previously said:

I'd bet the majority of the enforcement will be based on complaints rather than random patrol enforcement.

I agree, this is a bit like laws making jaywalking illegal. We all know it's a violation, but do it when & where appropriate because it's only enforced, most of the time, as a means towards an end.

That being said, it's really quite disturbing to see stuff like this written into law.

[fjcruzer123]

Naw, that's nothing... this is disturbing

18-13-101. Abuse of a corpse.

(1) A person commits abuse of a corpse if, without statutory or court-ordered authority, he or she:

(a) Removes the body or remains of any person from a grave or other place of sepulcher without the consent of the person who has the right to dispose of the remains pursuant to section 15-19-106, C.R.S; or

(b) Treats the body or remains of any person in a way that would outrage normal family sensibilities.

(2) Abuse of a corpse is a class 2 misdemeanor.