Here's a post from MTBR Arizona forum---
You would think it was a scene out the recent bad Dukes of Hazard flick. 8 of us were preparing for a late afternoon ride at McDowell Park Competitive loops when a Sheriffs Deputy blew into the parking lot Dukes of Hazard style stopping his vehicle just feet from our vehicles. After the dust cloud cleared he jumped out of his truck as if he were busting some of Americas Most Wanted. He shouted with authority, you all better have passes.. We all replied yes and offered to show our pass. He had no interest in actually seeing the pass and went on in a confrontational manner to ask what our intention was for being in the park. I thought it was clear by our helmets and bikes that our intention was to ride. Hummm that was a tough one?
He asked why we had lights and stated that it was a Class Three Misdemeanor to be on the trail after sunset and that he was strictly enforcing the parameters of "dust to dawn" that being whatever the news paper reports as being the time of sunset. He went on to state in a somewhat threatening tone that he would be waiting for those riders who violated this parameter and would impound their bike for doing so. Each and every bike he said I will take and you will be walking home. Hummm we drove..
Personally Im so glad that my tax dollars are going to these MTB Sting Operations at McDowell Park. Our group was beginning while it was light and brought lights as any prepared mountain biker would starting close to sunset. We were not breaking any laws but were treated like criminals and threatened of loosing our bikes.
So the moral of the story is. If your intentions are to ride any of the McDowell Park trails after dark think again. This Deputy is trying to make a name for himself and will issue you a ticket and try to take your bike. On the other hand if he continues to harass mountain bikers who are legally there and within the allowed time parameter as what happened with us, then be prepared to send a formal complaint to the Sheriffs Department certified. We cant have this out of control authority freak behaving in this manner. Its bad for mountain bikers and even worse for the park. His behavior hardly promotes return visits.
You would think it was a scene out the recent bad Dukes of Hazard flick. 8 of us were preparing for a late afternoon ride at McDowell Park Competitive loops when a Sheriffs Deputy blew into the parking lot Dukes of Hazard style stopping his vehicle just feet from our vehicles. After the dust cloud cleared he jumped out of his truck as if he were busting some of Americas Most Wanted. He shouted with authority, you all better have passes.. We all replied yes and offered to show our pass. He had no interest in actually seeing the pass and went on in a confrontational manner to ask what our intention was for being in the park. I thought it was clear by our helmets and bikes that our intention was to ride. Hummm that was a tough one?
He asked why we had lights and stated that it was a Class Three Misdemeanor to be on the trail after sunset and that he was strictly enforcing the parameters of "dust to dawn" that being whatever the news paper reports as being the time of sunset. He went on to state in a somewhat threatening tone that he would be waiting for those riders who violated this parameter and would impound their bike for doing so. Each and every bike he said I will take and you will be walking home. Hummm we drove..
Personally Im so glad that my tax dollars are going to these MTB Sting Operations at McDowell Park. Our group was beginning while it was light and brought lights as any prepared mountain biker would starting close to sunset. We were not breaking any laws but were treated like criminals and threatened of loosing our bikes.
So the moral of the story is. If your intentions are to ride any of the McDowell Park trails after dark think again. This Deputy is trying to make a name for himself and will issue you a ticket and try to take your bike. On the other hand if he continues to harass mountain bikers who are legally there and within the allowed time parameter as what happened with us, then be prepared to send a formal complaint to the Sheriffs Department certified. We cant have this out of control authority freak behaving in this manner. Its bad for mountain bikers and even worse for the park. His behavior hardly promotes return visits.
