THE PARTY’S OVER!
It used to be Palm Springs, and then it was Copper Canyon, then San Philippe, and finally Comp Hill.  Now it’s time to move on.

Yesterday, 12/6/99, the TRT voted unanimously to recommend to the BLM that up to $60,000 of fee money be used for additional law enforcement from Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) , to be used at the dunes. In the motion it also says they are writing a letter to the BLM State director, asking them to allocate a matching sum of $60,000 from the general fund (allocated funds) also to be used for Law Enforcement at the dunes. All this is in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year's party crowd. That's $120,000 for additional law enforcement that could have been spent on better things.

 It was also brought to light that the ICSO could apply for green sticker money for law enforcement at the dunes – the TRT will inform him of that and the process.  The Imperial County Sheriff is chomping at the bit to bring law and order to the ISDRA.  I say more power to them if it means returning the dunes back over to the people that pay the use fee and actually go there to ride the dunes.

 Also, the CHP already receives a portion of the Green Sticker money for off-road law enforcement - $2 from each Green Sticker.  All the BLM has to do is ask. You could see black and white quads with a CHP emblem on it in the dunes sooner than you think.  What a great job, riding the dunes on a quad and getting paid for it – I don’t think there will be any shortage of CHP volunteers. 

Bottom line is that because of a few irresponsible party animals, we have lost some of our freedoms.  The days of getting away from the city and all it’s rules and regulations are over.

 I hear the new party spot is on the dry lake behind Bell Mountain – way don’t you party animals go over there and take your drugs, trash, booze, explosions, and lunacy with you.  Stop ruining the dunes for the rest of us.  That way we’re all happy.

Vincent J. Brunasso
GOL and TRT Webmaster

Since the original writing we now have a curfew at Comp on major weekends. The following is the press release from the BLM followed by the ASA press release. Guess we should have seen it coming.

BLM Press Release Regarding Comp Hill Curfew
For Immediate Release: December 3, 2002
Contact: Stephen M. Razo (909) 697-5217
CA-CDD-03-10

Thousands Enjoy Holiday Weekend at Imperial Sand Dunes

Over 170,000 recreation enthusiasts enjoyed a relatively calm Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the Imperial Sand Dunes with federal, state, and local officials pleased with a continuing trend toward a safer environment. Overall, law enforcement and emergency medical service actions were down. Last weekend saw 780 law enforcement actions and 170 emergency medical responses in comparison to over 1,500 law enforcement actions and 200 medical responses a year ago.

"Last Thanksgiving weekend was a challenge for us," said Greg Thompsen, BLM El Centro Field Office manager. "With the initiation of the Incident Command System (ICS) and the wonderful cooperation of over 10 agencies, in particular the Imperial County Sheriff's Office and the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, this past year has seen a continuing trend towards a safer environment for Dunes visitors."

In the interest of safety for visitors and law enforcement officials, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance (no.1359) placing a sundown to sunrise curfew at Competition Hill, which was initiated this past weekend. Officials state that visitors honored the curfew and reported no challenges to the new restriction. The curfew began Thanksgiving evening and ran through Saturday night and will remain in effect for holiday weekends only. The ordinance states Competition Hill has become a major site for lawlessness, violence and drug use, especially at night, creating serious safety risks to law enforcement personnel and the general public.

The weekend ICS was comprised of law enforcement and support personnel from the California Highway Patrol, U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry, U.S. Border Patrol, Imperial County Sheriffs, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the Coachella Valley Law Enforcement Coalition, National Parks Service, California Dept. of State Parks and Recreation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Bureau of Narcotics, Yuma Rural Metro Fire and Ambulance, California Conservation Corps, and the Bureau of Land Management.

The ICS has been responsible for a significant decrease in unsafe behavior since January when the system was first initiated. The system has provided immediate capabilities to quickly respond to law enforcement and emergency medical incidents throughout the dunes.
"We thank the public for their support during this Thanksgiving holiday weekend," states Richard Franklin, incident commander for this weekend's interagency management team. "As a result, all law enforcement and emergency medical services incidents were significantly reduced. This allowed all of us at the Dunes to experience an enjoyable and safer visit this weekend."

The Imperial Sand Dunes is one of the premier off-highway vehicle recreation areas in the United States. Visitor use has been increasing dramatically during the past two years from October to April. On major holiday weekends up to 200,000 people visit the dunes.

-BLM-
California Desert District Office - 6221 Box Springs Blvd, Riverside, California - (909) 697-5220

ASA Press release

November 22, 2002
Imperial County Closes Federal Land

On Tuesday, November 19, 2002, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors
passed an ordinance that places a dusk to dawn curfew at Competition Hill in
the Glamis area of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.. Wally
Leimgruber, an Imperial County Board of Supervisor, said, "the intent of the
ordinance was to be for the Major Holidays only, not every night. The Board
also wanted it to be structured so the curfew could be at the Imperial
County Sheriff's discretion; expanded to more days or areas if needed." The
ordinance as written, however, says that there will be a curfew every night.
Leimgruber said the board of Supervisors is planning to amend the ordinance
at the next Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday, November 26th 2002,
to clarify their intent.

This unprecedented action by a local authority closing Federal land was done
without any public comment or discussion. Imperial County says the curfew is
necessary to protect the public from lawless behavior by a small portion of
the people who recreate at the ISDRA. The County's action appears to have
the blessing of, and was initiated by, the Imperial County Sheriff's Office.
It was kept between them and the County Board of Supervisors. It was not
discussed with, or proposed to, the American Sand Association in advance.

Since there are adequate rules and regulations already in place, The
American Sand Association is opposed to additional curfews and additional
laws. The ASA's main objection to the curfew is that it affects the
law-abiding users of the ISDRA who enjoy "running Comp" at night for the fun
and challenge. Moreover, the Bureau of Land Management has stated repeatedly
that their "Zero Tolerance" enforcement methods, begun in January 2002, have
had a significant positive impact reducing past problems.

"Since last year, we have been suggesting checkpoints at the entrance of
Comp Hill to identify liquor violations, illegal activity, or other rule
violations: but certainly not a curfew," said Bob Mason, ASA's Public Safety
Committee Chairman.

The ASA will make every attempt to inform its members of the new ordinance
as quickly as possible. "Our primary concern is that there is inadequate
lead time to inform ISDRA visitors," says Jerry Seaver, ASA President.
"Future actions of this nature must be coordinated with representatives of
the stakeholders if we are going to communicate effectively and accomplish
the desired results."

For the latest update on the Imperial County's revised ordinance go to
www.americansandassociation.org