Glamis Sand Dunes, Southern
California- The increasing enforcement of previously
non-enforced laws has erupted in the desert community of Imperial
County, California. Prior to the eco-nazis having their day with
pushover law makers, it wasn't often that you ever saw a law
enforcement officer actually in the dunes. Yes, occasionally they
had to venture inwards to deep sandy bowls to investigate a tragic
accident or deal with a situation, but as the crowds envelope the
restricted areas as of recent times, law enforcement is clamping
down with a vengeance. Whether you're on an off-road vehicle or
driving your Ford F350 4WD, you can be sought out and stopped by
law enforcement. Over the recent holiday weekend, many law
enforcement and government agencies were involved in the concerted
effort to put a stop to the alleged lawlessness at the Glamis Sand
Dunes.
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LAW
DOGS: Perusing the dunes 24/7,
the law dogs of the task force had over 700 law enforcement actions
with Glamis Duners over the Thanksgiving Weekend. At time of this
publication, it was unknown how many actions occurred over the
Christmas Holiday week.
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The Imperial County Sheriffs Office led the
consortium of agencies which included 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 Sheriffs 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.
Law enforcement managers in the Imperial Sand Dunes
have replicated the enforcement actions utilized at the Colorado
River area over the past seven years. As the Colorado River area
became inudated with more and more people, they sought the local
and federal regulators to put closures and restrictions on certain
areas. For example, in the days of yesteryear, it was unheard of to
close the sandbar at Lake Havasu. Nowadays, each spring and summer,
local, state and federal law enforcement officers step in to
enforce regulated closures at these popular locations. Of course,
they claim the surge in popularity and ongoing problems with
certain groups of people is what has led to these restrictions.
But, regardless of where you go or what you discover, problems in
society will forever be present.
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors passed an
ordinance (no.1359) placing a sundown to sunrise curfew at
Competition Hill, which was initiated on Thanksgiving Weekend for
the first time ever. Officials claim the curfew was in the interest
of safety for visitors and law enforcement officials. The curfew
began Thanksgiving evening and ran through Saturday night and will
remain in effect for holiday weekends only. The ordinance states
that 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. And to
add to this ordinance, the law enforcement team included Oldsmobile
Hill, which was a surprise to many. With the increase of law
enforcement agencies involved in the overall effort, all the big
toys were brought out including helicopters and military style
off-road vehicles. The task force reported 170,000 visitors to the
dunes and reported 780 law enforcement actions during the weekend.
Medical responses were reported at approximately 170 incidents.
Now that this similar enforcement action is being
taken at the Imperial Sand Dunes, it's time for those playing in
the area to know the laws and protect yourself and your checkbook.
Recently, the law enforcement officers at Glamis have stepped up
enforcement on many previously unenforced laws and regulations. If
you're churning up the sand at Glamis or one of the many
off-roading areas in the desert, BEWARE.
| YOU NEED LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR YOUR
OFF-ROAD VEH |
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Even flying high
in the sky, you still have to have proof of insurance. Flight
insurance perhaps???
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Old Glory
parades the dunes regularly in search of Bin Laden. God help him if
a crowd of Glamis studs find him there.
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Just more fun in
the sun. On a rather calm day, the hill is rather calm as everyone
seems to be under control.
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Boys will be
boys. Checking out the competition and having a refreshment, these
Glamis Duners are chllin'.
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ORC staffers were informed by the riding public at
the dunes that law enforcement officers were vigorously citing
persons for anything and everything in order to make a strong
presence shown. For example, with all the law enforcement agencies
involved in the holiday weekend task force, they had to prove to
government officials that, in fact, this was necessary. To further
prove their point, many Glamis dunes riders were targeted and cited
for violations that have never been enforced previously. One
violation that was continually cited was California Vehicle Code
Section 16020(a) Proof of Liability Insurance. This vehicle code
section states the following:
CVC 16020(a) Every driver
and every owner of a motor vehicle shall at all times be able to
establish financial responsibility pursuant to
Section 16021, and shall at all times carry in the vehicle
evidence
of the form of financial responsibility in effect for the
vehicle.
Now we know that 95% of you Glamis dune riders do not
carry liability insurance on your quads, motorcycles, and off-road
vehicles. But, beware that you can and will be cited and fined
pursuant this obscure California law. This law was created for
enforcement utilization on the streets of California because of the
"cheaters" who failed to obtain vehicle liability insurance when
this law took effect. However, most recently this law has hit the
dune riding community rather hard. Generally, the law enforcement
officer will conduct a traffic stop on you and your vehicle for a
particular vehicle code violation such as unsafe speed, no visible
green sticker, no light, no flag, etc. Whether or not you were
actually in violation of the allegation made by the officer, he/she
has the legal right to request identification and registration on
the vehicle you're operating. And of late, they are requesting to
see proof of liability insurance. Once they determine you don't
have liability insurance, it's an easy citation for them regardless
whether or not they cite you for the violation they stopped you
for. So it's a lose-lose for you and a win-win for them. Be aware
of the need to carry liability insurance.
Over the holiday, an ORC staffer was stopped and
cited for this violation while riding his quad in the dunes.
Shocked and surprised by the revelation, he ended up with a
citation as documented above. BEWARE
FRIENDS!!!
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MISTAKEN FOR
MILITARY ASSAULT VEHICLE: Rumor
has it the National Guard and US Border Patrol officers were
roaming the dunes in the Chenwoth Military Assault off-road
vehicle. Perhaps this bad ass ride was mistaken for military men.
Nevertheless, all black and hauling ass was the story of this
truck.
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INSURANCE-
Research by the ORC staff has determined that not
many insurance companies in California are interested in writing
liability insurance on any off-road vehicles let alone quads,
three-wheelers, off-road motorcycles and buggies. It's almost a
joke when we called around searching out for an insurance company
that would write the liability insurance policy. But intense
research by staffers discovered a well known company that currently
writes liability insurance for all vehicles including quads,
three-wheelers, motos, buggies and everything in between. The
McGraw Insurances Services Group is familiar with writing liability
insurance for personal watercraft and have a strong presence in the
personal watercraft industry, so it's no surprise they deal with
the active lifestyle client on a regular basis.
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GLAMIS FUN
ZONE:With everything available
on the Holiday Weekends at Vendor's Row, you can pretty much arrive
to Glamis with just a pair of shorts and your wallet and easily
survive. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, toys, accessories, girls and
boys, it's all here. Glamis rocks.
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WANTED DEAD OR
ALIVE:ORC staffers were sure
this guy was wanted dead or alive. His profile matched the photo on
his shirt and perhaps his sunglasses were to disguised his Arab
looking beady eyes. Is this Bin Laden? If so, I'm sure he failed to
survive the onslaught of rebels. |
Pacific Specialty Insurance Company (PSIC) - flagship
of the McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies - is recognized as an
industry leader in motorcycle and personal watercraft coverage.
PSIC also offers automotive, homeowners, boat, motorhome, mobile
home and commercial products, and has become the "one spot"
independent brokers and agents can source all their clients'
coverage needs.
Founded in 1976, McGraw Insurance Services is a
managing general agent, surplus lines broker, Lloyds correspondent
and the exclusive affiliated program administrator of Pacific
Specialty Insurance Company. Best known as one of the nation's
largest writers of personal watercraft insurance, McGraw is also
one of the largest writers of motorcycle insurance in the western
United States.
ORC recently had conversations with McGraw Insurance
Services advising them of the recent crack down on recreational
vehicles without liability insurance and they advised they are
willing and ready to assist all duners with any assistance they
need in obtaining insurance. You can visit McGraw Insurance
Services at www.mcgrawgroup.com
| For More
Information on the Glamis Sand Dunes visit |
Glamis Online
www.glamisonline.org
McGraw Insurance Services
Northern California
3601 Haven Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
tel: 800-828-3003 or 650-780-4800 fax: 650-780-4848
Southern California
P.O. Box 40, Anaheim, CA 92815
tel: 800-303-5000 or 714-998-2190 fax: 714-998-3158
www.mcgrawgroup.com
Dune@Off-Road.com