Record Fine For Bicyclists?

local resident | July 3, 2002 | me

[whipitgood]

Jefferson, Colorado- A group of bicyclists in Colorado may have incurred a record fine recently if dollars per mile are counted. Violating a well-posted closure of a National Forest and ignoring a monitor yelling for them to stay out, a group of bicyclists chose to continue on their ride over a short section of trail from the top of Kenosha Pass to Jefferson Lake in Park County, Colorado. The Colorado National Guard, summoned by the monitor, met the cyclists at Jefferson Lake after a ride of less than five miles, according to local sources. Fines for closure violations are currently from one thousand to a maximum of five thousand dollars. Perhaps the riders thought they could sneak past the monitor and enjoy a quiet ride through the closed National Forest. Whatever their motivation, hopefully they will pay closer attention to the rules next time they set out for a ride.

[Salgak]

Ah. As taxpayers, are they NOT THE OWNERS OF THE TRAIL ??? There's a FRIGGING TRAIL, and nobody can use it ? Amazing. . .

[Sam Cree]

What makes bicycle riders so arrogant? I often think they are all liberals...

[Jhoffa_]

I am so sure they just destroyed that trail with their bikes.

You know, I thought when you took land for "public use" that meant that the public could use it.

Silly me.

[zoyd]

The Colorado National Guard, summoned by the monitor, met the cyclists at Jefferson Lake after a ride of less than five miles,

Were they locked and loaded?

[jimkress]

I'm suprised the ecoNazis didn't call for the Delta Force to waste the 'violators of the sacred forest'.

[The Californian]

"Monitor" "National Guard"??????? Does the word "overkill" mean anything?

[Eagle Eye]

Fines of $5k? Isn't that felony territory? If so, they have lost their 2A rights.

Ahhh, life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, just like the Founders intended.

[boomop1]

This can probably be traced back to a clintoon gestapo executive order.

[johniegrad]

Does this have anything to do with fire danger and restrictions?

[Drango]

Ride a bike; go to jail.

[mc5cents]

Fines of $5k? Isn't that felony territory?

Not to mention that there is something in the constitution about excessive fines.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[Vidalia]

Something is odd here. Who were the cyclists?

[heavenbound]

BIO-SPHERES?

[meisterbrewer]

Uh, in case everyone missed it, there is a fire burning most of Colorado. The National Guard is always called out in such situations to prevent looting.

And, the parks are sealed during such fires so that idiots won't try to go in and see the fire, end up getting trapped, and then need rescuing, which can lead to the death of innocent fire fighters and rescue crews.

Sounds like these bikers got exactly what they deserved.

[heavenbound]

UN? UN-GODLY, UN-HOLY, UN-AMERICAN, etc...........

[ffrancone]

Well, I'm the owner of land close to there. Those mountains are a tinderbox--an explosion waiting to happen. The BLM and Forest Service land is closed for a good reason. People start fires, intentionally and unintentionally.

Those lands should stay closed for the duration of this crisis.

[FreeInWV]

Good! Around here we have freaky liberal bicyclists who think that they own everything. The rails to trails organizations keep infringing on the property rights of adjacent property owners. They need took down a notch.

[driftless]

here here! As a hiker in Wisconsin's state parks, I've come close to being steamrollered a number of times by cyclists who were obviously too intent on being trendy rather than enjoying nature. Wisconsin needs bikers money, but they ruin trails and are menaces to hikers.

[genefromjersey]

Ever see the SUV commercial where a cyclist breaks his bike seat riding down the rocks , then runs over to his 10MPG SUV to patch the seat with adhesive tape ?

Ever think to youself: "This bike guy is an "orifice" ( That's my new PC way of saying A**hole.)?

If you look to the biker as a role model, you'll probably support his "right" to ride through a high-hazard forest trail; and, logically, his "right" to do "wheelies" and "Figure 8's" on the local HS ballfield ( public property, isn't it ? ).

If you're like most of us, you'll think the National Guard was very restrained...