Forum
Avatar
Please consider registering
Guest
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
message
Plumas County Sheriff refuses to enforce Forest Service Regs
February 18, 2011
9:35 am
Avatar
hytenor
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 105
Member Since:
September 9, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

if this sort of effort could spread from coast to coast it would make a hell of a statement for common sense laws.
pass the pirate link on to as many off-road clubs/sites/forums as you can!

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum.....p?t=957326

This is a great article from the Plumas County News:

Sheriff refuses to enforce federal regulations

M. Kate West
Chester Editor
2/15/2011

“There was a good reason why the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office had a large presence at the Almanor Basin Tea Party Patriots meeting,” Sheriff Greg Hagwood said Feb. 10.

He said he and his administration, along with the area patrol sergeant Dean Canalia and Chester deputies Ian James and Chris Herrbach, were there to “demonstrate first and foremost their awareness of what the United States Forest Service was trying to inflict on residents and tourists alike with restricting access to public lands.”

“Secondly, I want every citizen to know we do not support, endorse nor will we inflict this one-vehicle limit nonsense on them,” Hagwood said.

“Bottom line, we are not going to be agents of the federal government in creating a new class of criminals who are doing nothing more then accessing what are public lands.”

—Greg Hagwood, Plumas County Sheriff

The referenced one-vehicle limit is a rule being proposed that would limit persons pulling trailers or gathering firewood to being able to only move their vehicle off the roadway a distance equal to the measured length of their personal vehicle(s).

He then spoke about all the laws, rules and regulations the USFS already has in place to protect the forest.

“I will be damned if my staff will start inflicting these latest federal mandates on law-abiding citizens who are doing nothing more then enjoying what should continue to be recognized as public lands,” Hagwood said.

He also talked about road access for snowmobile, off-highway vehicle and woodcutting use.

“I see this as the beginning of an effort to restrict and inhibit access to public lands. Just because those uses are not targeted today does not mean they won’t be tomorrow,” he said. “At some point this nonsense has got to stop.”

He said there are already numerous laws that address resource damage and irresponsible behavior on pubic lands and in the forest.

“There are ample laws to address those issues now. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office will not be citing, arresting, seizing vehicles of residents who have driven 30 yards off the roadway to collect firewood,” he said.

According to the proposed rule, persons who drive off the roadway will be in violation of the USFS Travel Management Plan and subject to punitive measures.

“No one supports damages to resources or the environment but we have to get to a point where political correctness takes a back seat to common sense,” Hagwood said.

“I was elected to protect the rights of our citizens and I take this duty seriously. I believe my stand (is) in keeping with the general sentiment of the people of Plumas County and the employees of the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s a shame that we have come to recognize the seriousness this late in the game — better late then never. People are beginning to recognize the infringement on their liberties and I applaud those who are waking up and taking action.”

As for his stand on the issue, Hagwood said, “I think it’s essential people in Plumas County understand that as important as enforcing laws are, of equal importance is our job to ensure people’s liberties and freedoms.”

Looking at others in attendance at the Almanor Basin Tea Party Patriots meeting Feb. 8, it was obvious Hagwood is not alone in his sentiments.

Present from Lassen County were Sheriff Dean Growden and county supervisors Bob Pyle and Larry Wosick. Sheriff John Evans traveled over from Sierra County.

Plumas County supervisors Sherrie Thrall and Terry Swofford also attended the meeting.

Moving up to the state and national level: representatives were in the audience from the offices of Assemblyman Dan Logue and Congressmen Wally Herger and Tom McClintock.

The meeting was live streamed with a file to go to archive on the Tea Party website.

It was anticipated that the following government offices were viewing the meeting from outside locations: Congressman Dan Lundgren and the board of supervisors from Plumas, Lassen, Butte, Modoc, Sierra and Tehama counties.

'00 Tacoma with a few mods

February 18, 2011
2:28 pm
Avatar
JohnDF
Member

Club Member
Forum Posts: 9523
Member Since:
July 10, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hip-hip-hooray!
Common sense in politics is so rare these days.

I used to wheel a lot. . .

February 18, 2011
4:02 pm
Avatar
Guest
Guest
Guest

The forest service can and will still ticket you right? How much enforcement would actually be done by the Sheriff anyway? I'm not a real big fan of law enforcement using their positions for politics. I understand that the sheriff is an elected position but he and the deputies took an oath to uphold the law. Not real excited about them picking and choosing which ones they think are important. Seems like a pretty slippery slope.

February 18, 2011
4:45 pm
Avatar
Justin
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 1416
Member Since:
January 12, 2007
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

"Bender" wrote: Not real excited about them picking and choosing which ones they think are important.

In my experience of being on the "wrong end of the law", they always seamed to pick and choose what I was doing wrong depending on my attitude. That's okay by me. I don't want their job and I completely understand how/why they let some infractions slip by.

February 18, 2011
4:55 pm
Avatar
JohnDF
Member

Club Member
Forum Posts: 9523
Member Since:
July 10, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Their (police officers) whole day is "picking and choosing" which laws to enforce. Otherwise we wouldn't have enough man hours to staff the departments to enforce every law on the books. Many of which we all break on a daily basis.

I say good for them for using their political power for the benefit of "our side" for a change. The opposition has been getting away with it for far longer in the guise of society's benefit.

I used to wheel a lot. . .

February 18, 2011
5:29 pm
Avatar
RobD
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 1721
Member Since:
July 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Sheriff Greg Hagwood and I went to Quincy high together. I support Greg 100% on his decision to not enforce Federal Forestry Laws. You have to understand that state and federal enforcement has been at odds for longer than any of us have been alive. The Feds can enforce state and federal law just like we can. Some times we choose the same fight; some times we have different views. Prop 215 is a perfect example. State law tells us we can’t enforce marijuana possession. The Feds ignore state law because Federal law still has possession as a crime. Just like John and Justin said! We have the power and legal right to pick and choose most laws we enforce. (most laws! common sense stuff like murder, etc are the exceptions) It is called “Spirit of the law. John said it perfect, if we live by what is called “Letter of the law” (zero tolerance) We would have to quadruple the size of all departments to try and even put a dent in calls for service.

That being said, since I am from Plumas County (Quincy) and I have seen over the last 40 years the decline of work there because of the Feds and tree huggers. Closing more forest access or seriously limiting it will kill even more of the local economy. I have seen friends of mine and their families lives ruined over the years from what the Forest Service has done in Plumas county..

:censor: THE FEDERAL FOREST SERVICE!!!!!!

__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan

February 18, 2011
5:43 pm
Avatar
Guest
Guest
Guest

I definitely understand that an officer's entire day is spent making discretionary decisions and that's the way it should be. This just really feels like a political move more than anything. I can't get behind it just because I like what he's saying. I'd be willing to bet that if he came out and said he wasn't going to bust the guys that make meth because it brings so much money into the community and takes a lot of time to deal with, everybody would feel differently. This is the same sort of thing in my eyes. I'm certainly not sorry they're not enforcing it and I'm glad they're spending their time on more important crimes.

And yeah...I'm from Plumas County too so I have an idea of what goes on up there and how it has been hurt. I don't know Greg because if he went to school with Rob he is old. mr-green

February 18, 2011
6:03 pm
Avatar
JohnDF
Member

Club Member
Forum Posts: 9523
Member Since:
July 10, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

"Bender" wrote: I'd be willing to bet that if he came out and said he wasn't going to bust the guys that make meth because it brings so much money into the community and takes a lot of time to deal with everybody would feel differently.:

Not to start a pissing match, not my intent beer

But really...

The "opposition" has been doing that for years. Rationalizing inner city crime because they are disadvantaged and it's the fault of the middle incomers and the rich. So we need more programs and money to help those poor meth addicts and car jackers, because really they are just misunderstood individuals who haven't got a break in life.

There is a huge difference between meth labs and gathering firewood or driving a snow mobile. Oh, but that's right, we can't burn wood any more either because it's bad for the environment. So ya, let's keep the meth labs open but not put any smoke in the air.

Commen sense...

I used to wheel a lot. . .

February 18, 2011
6:28 pm
Avatar
RobD
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 1721
Member Since:
July 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I am all for legalizing Meth and other white dope..Charlie Sheen even said it.."As long as you handle it, it's OK" mr-green mr-green mr-green

I don't view it as a political fight, Plumas County is tired of having the Federal Government try and regulate their way of making a living and the Sheriff's Department is standing up to them and saying, No more.

It is not the responsibility of local law enforcement agencies to enforce environmental laws. If it was, they should be asking the Forest service to help them enforce local and state laws like domestic violence, theft, drugs, etc, etc, etc!!! So you see, even though LE Forest service Rangers have full law enforcement powers, they choose not to help out locals LE because their primary duties are forest lands and environmental issues...So why is it OK for them not to enforce local laws but not OK for us to not enforce forest land laws???????????

__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan

February 18, 2011
7:55 pm
Avatar
Guest
Guest
Guest

"JohnDF" wrote:
Not to start a pissing match, not my intent beer

Me either. beer

February 18, 2011
9:32 pm
Avatar
RobD
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 1721
Member Since:
July 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Me neither!!!

Just getting in my views since I am both a cop and from Plumas County. I know my opinion is a little harsh and that is due to the fact I truly hate the Forest Service!!!!!

"Bender" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"]
Not to start a pissing match, not my intent beer

Me either. beer

__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan

February 19, 2011
12:53 am
Avatar
hytenor
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 105
Member Since:
September 9, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Eldorado guys seem to be on board as well.

'00 Tacoma with a few mods

February 19, 2011
1:43 am
Avatar
JohnDF
Member

Club Member
Forum Posts: 9523
Member Since:
July 10, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Now if we could get the Placer guys on board mr-green

I used to wheel a lot. . .

February 19, 2011
2:09 am
Avatar
hytenor
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 105
Member Since:
September 9, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

"JohnDF" wrote: Now if we could get the Placer guys on board mr-green

contact them. Bebe posted the list of county sheriff addresses to email; check the Pirate thread

'00 Tacoma with a few mods

February 19, 2011
6:23 am
Avatar
JohnDF
Member

Club Member
Forum Posts: 9523
Member Since:
July 10, 2003
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

"hytenor" wrote:
contact them.

Paging Rob mr-green

I used to wheel a lot. . .

February 19, 2011
3:29 pm
Avatar
RobD
Member
Subscriber
Forum Posts: 1721
Member Since:
July 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I can pretty much tell you that we don't enforce them. The rail road try's to get us to enforce their regs too, but we don't unless they pay us the overtime to do it. Counties and cities just don't have the time and man power to do anything but answer our own calls for service. Nevada county is a different story, I know for a fact they enforce forest regs all the time..

"JohnDF" wrote: [quote="hytenor"]
contact them.

Paging Rob mr-green

__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Most Users Ever Online: 81
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 1
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
JohnDF: 9523
Fred: 3609
Gregulator: 3047
RobD: 1721
Jeff_R: 1687
Josh: 1631
Tom: 1465
Justin: 1416
Gilbert & Betty: 1392
Dan-H: 1378
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 12
Members: 135
Moderators: 5
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 5
Forums: 24
Topics: 4221
Posts: 65665
Newest Members:
Ski man, RomikaHill, JKJeepGirl, frostie_jeep, RockyRaccoon, [email protected], Rogersuisy, TacoDan, Topliner
Moderators: Posse4x4: 1, BKGM Jeepers: 6982, Lynda and Guy: 194, kris_olof: 1080, Jamie (K6NUB): 720
Administrators: k-jeep: 2220
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today: None
Upcoming: Guy and Lynda, TravisL'11JK, Mike G, Krawlman, Robert & Amber