News Release

 

For Release:  November 20, 2002                                                       

Contact:  Imperial County Supervisor Wally Leimgruber  (760) 482-4305

BLM - Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220, Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4616 or John Dearing (916) 978-4622

Imperial County Sheriff Harold Carter (760) 339-6301

CA-CDD-03-09

 

 

BLM to Support Safety Ordinance Passed by County Supervisors for Imperial Dunes

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will assist Imperial County officials to enforce an ordinance passed by the county's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, November 19 to close Competition Hill at night during major holiday weekends.  Competition Hill is a very popular hill climb area within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, located east of El Centro in Imperial County.

 

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors passed the ordinance (No. 1359) upon the recommendation of the Imperial County Sheriff's Department.  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. 

 

"We want to make sure that everyone understands that lawlessness will not be tolerated in Imperial County," said Wally Leimgruber, Imperial County Supervisor.  "We want our visitors to know we care about their safety, and that violators will be arrested and prosecuted."

 

The ordinance requires Competition Hill be closed to all recreationists one half hour before sunset until one half hour after sunrise from Thursday, November 28 through Saturday, November 30, over the Thanksgiving holiday. The ordinance is also effective for the New Year's, Halloween, and other three-day holiday weekends.

 

"We cannot permit the type of uncontrolled lawless activity to continue," said Harold Carter, Imperial County Sheriff.  "We hope this closure sends a strong message that unlawful activity in Imperial County will not be tolerated."

 

According to the ordinance, violation of the closure will be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both. The BLM, in cooperation with the Imperial County Sheriff's Department, will erect signs and notices to inform visitors of the nighttime closure. 

 

"Public safety at the Imperial Dunes is our highest priority," said Mike Pool, BLM state director. "In the interest of public safety, for the protection of all law enforcement officers, and to strengthen family-based recreation, BLM supports the action taken by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors," Pool said.

 

The ordinance states that the action is an urgency measure for preservation of the public health and safety and took effect immediately upon adoption.  BLM, under its memorandum of understanding with Imperial County, will assist in enforcement.

 

"While the decision by Imperial County to close Competition Hill is understandable for visitor safety, we are concerned that this could be construed as closing additional land to public access without proper public input," said Jerry Seaver, president of the American Sand Association.

 

The Imperial Sand Dunes is one of the premier off-highway vehicle recreation areas in the United States.  Visitor use has been increasing dramatically at the dunes during the past two years from October through April.   On major holiday weekends up to 200,000 people visit the Dunes. 

 

-BLM-

Link to Imperial County Ordinance No. 1359: http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/pdfs/2002other/ImpDunesOrdinance.pdf