DATE/TIME: Tuesday, February 8, 2023, 8:00 a.m.
INCIDENT: OPERATION DUST DEVIL; WEEK SEVEN STATS
During the seventh week of Operation Dust Devil, deputies patrolled Phelan, Hesperia, Victorville, Apple Valley, Johnson Valley, and the Juniper Flats area. In the past months, deputies have received and responded to multiple motorcycle disturbance calls in the Victor Valley. Deputies issued 26 California Vehicle Code citations, 17 California Penal Code citations, one San Bernardino County Code Enforcement citation, five city of Hesperia Code Enforcement citations, and towed four vehicles. Three of the vehicles towed were quads being driven on the roadway in the town of Apple Valley.
Throughout the patrol, deputies contacted 225 citizens and provided educational resources on legal riding areas and safe riding practices.
Deputies also contacted approximately 5,000 off-road enthusiasts at King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley. Educational resources on legal riding areas were provided to those who requested the information.
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
