DATE/TIME: Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
INCIDENT: OPERATION DUST DEVIL WEEK NINE STATS
During the ninth week of Operation Dust Devil, deputies patrolled Pinon Hills, Phelan, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Juniper Flats, and Yermo. Deputies issued 27 California Vehicle Code citations, nine California Penal Code Citations, and 11 San Bernardino County Code Enforcement citations.
The areas listed above were patrolled due to the multiple motorcycle disturbance calls received in those areas during the past 30-days. Throughout the patrol, deputies contacted 650 citizens and provided educational resources on legal riding areas and safe riding practices.
On Saturday, a couple large off-road groups staged at a nearby restaurant and hotel and drove on the roadways to access the Calico riding areas. Deputies stopped and cited over 20 drivers and towed off-road vehicles when the drivers attempted to flee. Everyone contacted was provided information on legal riding areas and advised to trailer off-road vehicles to those areas.
On Sunday, deputies assigned to Operation Dust Devil worked a joint operation with San Bernardino County Code Enforcement, California Highway Patrol, Rialto Police Department, Colton Police Department, California Department of Fish and Game, and San Bernardino County Parks, in the Santa Ana Riverbed and Cajon Wash. The Cajon/Lytle Creek Wash and the Santa Ana River are home to several Endangered Plants and Wildlife. Irresponsible off-roaders who unlawfully trespass these lands can cause considerable damage to the sensitive environment. Motorists are illegally using the Santa Ana River Bike Trail as a highway and putting pedestrians and bicyclists in danger. This operation was an effort to protect the Santa Ana Riverbed & Cajon/Lytle Creek, to reduce the illegal OHV activity in this area, pollution to the water, and vandalism to the infrastructure.
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
