In a dramatic response to illegal activities at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area the BLM announced Tuesday, February 5th that they will implement a "Zero Tolerance" policy during President's Day weekend.

Vehicle regulations and all other ISDRA rules will be enforced and major infractions of rules or laws could result in jail time according to El Centro Field Manager Greg Thomsen. A multi-agency task force comprised of Imperial County Sheriff's Dept., Calif. Highway Patrol, National Park Service, U.S Forest Service, Calif. Dept of Parks and Recreation, Calif. Dept of Forestry, and the U.S. Border Patrol, will implement this "Zero tolerance" policy. According to the news release this additional law enforcement presence will "allow officials to crack down on an array of potential violations" The complete text of the BLM news release is below.

Although the ASA supports the BLM'S enforcement of the laws and rules, the zero tolerance approach is of concern when dealing with minor infractions. The "zero tolerance" approach tends to paint even the most minor infractions with the same brush. The ASA has encouraged the BLM and the other law enforcement agencies to use common sense when implementing their "zero tolerance" procedure.

The vast majority of the sand sport enthusiasts who visit the Imperial Sand Dunes are law-abiding, responsible people. Unfortunately, this is a situation where the very small minority is giving the sand sport enthusiast a black eye and is being dealt with by the BLM in a way that affects everyone.

The ASA has been working closely with the BLM and the Imperial County Sheriff's Office to ensure that as many Imperial Sand Dune visitors as possible know the rules and laws. The ASA encourages all sand sport enthusiasts to know and abide by the rules. Please remember that it is your responsibility to know the rules and laws.

The rules and laws can also be obtained at the Cahuilla Ranger Station on Gecko Road or from a BLM Ranger. BLM rules and the California Off-Highway Vehicle laws are also posted on www.glamisonline.org in the Legal Information section under Rules & Regulations.

The BLM 2/06/02 news release and Public Service Announcements (PSA) outlining the law enforcement plans for the upcoming President's Day weekend will be distributed to Arizona, California and Nevada radio and TV stations and to selected high schools for use on their closed-circuit TV systems and student body announcements.

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management

News Release

Zero Tolerance Declared for Imperial Sand Dunes

"There will be a significant increase in law enforcement at the Imperial Sand Dunes during President's Day weekend," states Greg Thomsen, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) El Centro Field Office Manager. "The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area rules, the California Off Highway Vehicle regulations and other applicable state and federal laws will be strictly enforced. Major infractions of rules or laws could land you in a U.S. Border Patrol bus headed for jail," Thomsen added.

Law enforcement and support personnel from Imperial County, California Highway Patrol, National Park Service Special Event Team, U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of State Parks and Recreation, California Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Border Patrol, work with the BLM at the Dunes through a multi-agency Incident Command and Control System. The system was successfully deployed during the New Year's and Martin Luther King holiday weekends and provided immediate capabilities to handle incidents quickly, providing an effective security net throughout the Dunes.

Additional law enforcement presence will allow officials to crack down on an array of potential violations throughout the Dunes. Aerial patrols by the Imperial County Sheriff's Office Aerial Squadron and the California Highway Patrol helicopter will seek speeders, reckless drivers, and any suspicious activity day or night with aerial flood lights. Speeds in excess of 15 mph within 50 feet of a group of people or faster than it is safe for existing conditions will be strictly enforced. California Highway Patrol, BLM, and Imperial County law enforcement officials will be equipped with radar guns to monitor vehicle speed in camping areas and near group concentrations.

Imperial County Sheriff Harold Carter states, "The operator of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will be arrested and transported to jail. Underage
drinking will not be tolerated. Undercover officers will be on-hand to identify violators."

According to Bob Zimmer, BLM El Centro Chief Ranger, "pinch-points" will be set up at entrances to popular nighttime gatherings to cut down on illegal activities later in the evening.

The Imperial Dunes is one of the most heavily visited off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation areas in the country. However, an increasing number of law breakers have threatened the safety of visitors at the Dunes during the past two years. American Sand Association (ASA) President, Jerry Seaver, encourages the off-road community to "please remember that it is your responsibility to know the law. Let's focus on safety and be responsible."

"Public safety at the Imperial Dunes is a top priority," said BLM State Director Mike Pool. "Continued assistance from county, state and federal agencies help us make the Dunes a safer place for our visitors."

--- BLM ---

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

DUNES RECREATION AREA RULES, CALIFORNIA OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE REGULATIONS AND OTHER APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.

COME OUT AND ENJOY THE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES...WITHIN THE LAW.