Here we go again, As we continue to see our
recreation opportunities shrink, The more pressure we
see here in Kern Co, Glamis. or other areas.
I highly recommend attend this board meeting if possible
or send a note to the list of supervisors listed below to oppose this crap!
Don't let them sneek it by Just like Riverside and San Bernardino.
Wayne
County curtails off-road motor vehicle use
By Sam Womack/Staff Writer
Just in time for summer recreation season, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors introduced an amended ordinance Tuesday to severely curtail any type of motor vehicle use on unimproved public property, particularly riverbeds.
Anyone caught using off-road vehicles on unimproved public property will be charged with an infraction offense and fined $100, according to the ordinance.
The penalty for a second violation within the same year is a $200 fine. A third violation within a year will be a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both.
The charges could have been worse for first-time violators, but Supervisor Joe Centeno stood firm in his initial request for progressive penalties, despite a call for harsher punishment from Supervisor Janet Wolf.
The only exception to the penalties are motor vehicles used for agricultural or governmental purposes or “for the direct crossing of unimproved property from a roadway or trail ... in order to remain on the path.”
Also, according to the revised ordinance, the amendment does not apply to public property that already permits motorcycles, off-road vehicles or other motor vehicles.
At the supervisors' April 1 meeting, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown proposed an amendment to the county code that would prohibit motor vehicles on unimproved public property.
Although the amendment was designed to protect landowners adjacent to these public properties, ranchers and farmers were concerned that they too would be penalized for traversing a riverbed that bisects their private property.
Tuesday, John Wiester said the county agricultural advisory committee members were satisfied with the agricultural exemption, but they were concerned that property owners would not be able to make a citizens arrest for an infraction.
But Centeno, a former police chief, and the Sheriff's department said a citizens arrest can be made on any illegal activity.
After hearing public comment, Wolf said the first offense was serious enough to merit a misdemeanor charge and made a motion to amend the item, but it was voted down 3-2, with Supervisors Joni Gray and Centeno opposed.
They said that if the progressive penalties prove inadequate, the board would modify the ordinance.
The ordinance is set to be adopted at the supervisors' May 6 meeting in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.
Sam Womack can be reached at 739-2218 or swomack@lompocrecord.com.
April 16, 2008
Here is the contact information for all County Board of Supervisors:
Board of Supervisors
1st District: Salud Carbajal, Chair Phone: (805) 568-2186
Fax: (805) 568-2534
E-mail: SupervisorCarbajal@sbcbos1.org
Website: http://www.countyofsb.org/salud-carbajal
2nd District: Janet Wolf Phone: (805) 568-2191
Fax: (805) 568-2283
E-mail: jwolf@sbcbos2.org
Website: http://www.countyofsb.org/Janet-Wolf
3rd District: Brooks Firestone Phone: (805) 568-2192
Fax: (805) 568-2883
Solvang: (805) 686-5095
Fax: (805) 686-8133
E-mail: bfirestone@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
Website: http://www.countyofsb.org/brooks-firestone
4th District: Joni Gray Lompoc: (805) 737-7700
Santa Maria: (805) 346-8407
E-mail: jgray@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
Website: http://www.countyofsb.org/Joni-Gray/
5th District: Joseph Centeno, Vice Chair Santa Maria: (805) 346-8400
Fax: (805) 346-8404
E-mail: jcenteno@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
Website: http://www.countyofsb.org/Joseph-Centeno/