I hope I am not the only one who has put this together. Along time ago (about 30 years) a dirtbiker co9uld climb on the old DT and cruise the trails for hours and NEVER have a "cumbersome" interlude with the authorities - my how things have changed!!! 8 years ago my son and I were "caught" (I drove right up to the officers car thinking he was a welcome friend - HA) riding the snowmobile trails here behind our home. The "officer of the forest"
explained in detail how he could take our quads/equipment/licenses as well as my next 3 weeks pay for doing what we were doing (having fun has its price now adays). After apologizing for intruding on his property and promising not to do it again I asked if there was a way that a person could enjoy his "freedom" with0ut causing a "law professional" like himself a problem. He said that if I would license plate/insure/ORV sticker/OCY my michigan drivers license I could ride all the 2 tracks to my hearts content (I didnt know about this one cause my hearts contentment equals over 50k a year on my street bike and 15k a year on dirt).
Well I did as he suggested and must admit that up to this last week I have had a RIOT Dual Sporting (to me this is riding my KDX250 around the Michigan CCC trail/crossing the Mackinaw Bridge ect..) with NO legal probs. Now however I have a "riding in a closed area" ticket to fight in our Muskegon court because of my friendlyness. I was "caught" riding into the entrance at "Cedar Creek" on my D/S KDX by a Mi CO. I told him that I was street legal but he didnt care he just said "really" and wrote the ticket any way. He acted like he needed the money real bad or somthing.... He didnt bother writing my plate number or anything down he just wrote "Kawasaki Dirtbike and then the VIN # at the bottom of the ticket!!! I was kind and didn't tell him that I would be seeing im in court soon. I pled not quilty at my "aranement" (for those of you who have never had one of these tickets it is a misdemeanor) and have a Janurary pre-trial date set. I plan on taking my MI registration, a copy of my state inspection form, my title and my bike to court with me. If all goes well and the prosecuter throws the thing out of court at pre-trial I will check into filing charges against the CO....
All in all I must say that it has been a GREAT 8 years of riding EVERYTHING here in lower Michigan. If I could average 8 years between contacts/conversations with a "notorious" Conservation Officer life would be almost perfect!!! One thing that I advise all you D/S riders out there - if you are in Michigan and you see a dark green truck headed your way DO NOT APPROACH!!!!!!!!! Whats inside is not your friend!!!
Woodsy
explained in detail how he could take our quads/equipment/licenses as well as my next 3 weeks pay for doing what we were doing (having fun has its price now adays). After apologizing for intruding on his property and promising not to do it again I asked if there was a way that a person could enjoy his "freedom" with0ut causing a "law professional" like himself a problem. He said that if I would license plate/insure/ORV sticker/OCY my michigan drivers license I could ride all the 2 tracks to my hearts content (I didnt know about this one cause my hearts contentment equals over 50k a year on my street bike and 15k a year on dirt).
Well I did as he suggested and must admit that up to this last week I have had a RIOT Dual Sporting (to me this is riding my KDX250 around the Michigan CCC trail/crossing the Mackinaw Bridge ect..) with NO legal probs. Now however I have a "riding in a closed area" ticket to fight in our Muskegon court because of my friendlyness. I was "caught" riding into the entrance at "Cedar Creek" on my D/S KDX by a Mi CO. I told him that I was street legal but he didnt care he just said "really" and wrote the ticket any way. He acted like he needed the money real bad or somthing.... He didnt bother writing my plate number or anything down he just wrote "Kawasaki Dirtbike and then the VIN # at the bottom of the ticket!!! I was kind and didn't tell him that I would be seeing im in court soon. I pled not quilty at my "aranement" (for those of you who have never had one of these tickets it is a misdemeanor) and have a Janurary pre-trial date set. I plan on taking my MI registration, a copy of my state inspection form, my title and my bike to court with me. If all goes well and the prosecuter throws the thing out of court at pre-trial I will check into filing charges against the CO....
All in all I must say that it has been a GREAT 8 years of riding EVERYTHING here in lower Michigan. If I could average 8 years between contacts/conversations with a "notorious" Conservation Officer life would be almost perfect!!! One thing that I advise all you D/S riders out there - if you are in Michigan and you see a dark green truck headed your way DO NOT APPROACH!!!!!!!!! Whats inside is not your friend!!!
Woodsy