DATE/TIME: Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 11:00am
INCIDENT: OPERATION DUST DEVIL WEEK FIVE STATS
During the fifth week of Operation Dust Devil, deputies patrolled Summit Valley, Silverwood, Twin Peaks, Deep Creek, Apple Valley, El Mirage, Helendale, Juniper Flats and Big Bear. Deputies issued 28 California Vehicle Code Citations, 13 San Bernardino County Code Enforcement citations, towed six vehicles, and made one arrest. Deputies also made an additional 760 educational contacts and assisted with one medical aid.
On Saturday, January 21, 2023, several large off-road clubs staged on deep creek road and rode to Big Bear. Five off-road vehicles were towed that day for operating on public roadways. Numerous citations were issued for subjects not wearing helmets and for operating on private property without permission from the property owner.
Several of the off-highway vehicles ran over small spikes, which appeared to have been left intentionally on the trails in the Juniper Flats area. We would like to remind property owners and residents that setting booby traps can be constituted as criminal behavior and can subject them to legal and civil actions. To report illegal riding in your area, please email [email protected].
Background
On December 17, 2022, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors authorized funding to assist with county-wide off highway vehicle enforcement. The funding allows the Sheriff’s Department to increase law enforcement services related to quality-of-life issues affecting the communities in our county.
Operation Dust Devil will take place over the next several months to encourage safe and responsible off-highway vehicle operation, by way of education and enforcement throughout San Bernardino County.
Operation Dust Devil will focus on off-highway vehicle operations throughout the county’s 20,105 sq. miles. The operation will include personnel from the Sheriff’s Off-Highway Vehicle Team and various patrol stations. They will work with San Bernardino County Land Use Services/Code Enforcement, San Bernardino Park Services, Hesperia Park Services, US Forest Service, California State Parks, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Fish and Game, National Parks Service, BNSF Police, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino Police Department, Rialto Police Department and Colton Police Department.
The goal of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Off-Highway Vehicle Team is to contact off highway vehicle enthusiasts and educate them in the safe and proper use of their equipment, to include use of helmets, seat belts, and operating on designated off-highway vehicle trails and open areas. Many enthusiasts are unaware of the locations of the legal and open off-highway vehicle riding areas.
The County of San Bernardino and Sheriff’s Department supports responsible and safe off-highway vehicle use and encourages enthusiasts to use the below links to learn about and discover the legal off-highway vehicle opportunities in the county. If you would like the team to assess a particular area regarding illegal riding, please email [email protected].
San Bernardino National Forest - OHV Riding & Camping (usda.gov)
Off-Highway Vehicles | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)
State Vehicular Recreation Areas (ca.gov)
Off Highway Vehicles – Parks (sbcounty.gov)
OHV Trails - Southern California Mountains Foundation
California Trail Map
Refer: Lieutenant Ryan Smith, Victor Valley Station
Phone No. (760) 552-6800
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
