For Release: November 22, 2005
Contact: Stephen Razo (951) 697-5217
CA-CDD-06-15

Dunes Season Maintains "Zero Tolerance," Temporary Closures

With the approaching Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Imperial Sand Dunes recreation enthusiasts will see a continuation of the "zero tolerance" law enforcement policy and interim lawsuit closures temporarily remaining in effect.

"The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) continues to enjoy support for law enforcement efforts throughout the dunes area," said Robert Roudabush, acting desert district manager for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). "The BLM and Imperial County sheriff's office will continue the "zero tolerance" policy throughout the upcoming visitation season in order to maintain a family atmosphere and a safe off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation environment."

As part of the policy, a sobriety checkpoint will be in effect in the dunes area beginning on Thursday, November 25 through Friday, November 26, 2004. A coalition of state and federal law enforcement officers will be enforcing the policy as well as all other rules and regulations in the dunes. Among these will be enforcement of the Imperial County safety ordinance.

The ordinance directs that Competition Hill be closed on holiday weekends to all recreationists one half hour before sunset until one half hour after sunrise. According to the ordinance, violations 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. Interim closures affecting about 49,000 acres will continue on a temporary basis due to a settlement in a lawsuit brought by Center for Biological Diversity and others.

Recreation fees remain at $25 per week or $90 for a season pass for each primary vehicle (a primary vehicle is a vehicle that is driven to the dunes). Permits must be displayed at all times while at the ISDRA, and must be clearly visible from the front windshield on the rearview mirror or dashboard with the expiration side up.

Permits may be acquired from the Imperial County sheriff's office and/or any Imperial County sheriff officer. As a result of the new five-year agreement with the BLM, the Imperial County sheriff's office is responsible for fee collection and compliance at the ISDRA.

The county has created the sheriff's recreation permit enforcement division (S.R.P.E.D.), with responsibility for printing, collecting and assisting with compliance of non-commercial special recreation permit fees at the ISDRA. The division will also enforce pertinent state, county and applicable federal law relating to fee collection and compliance, develop community educational programs, and maintain and service fee equipment.

As of October 2003, the fee area was increased in size and encompasses the entire ISDRA recreation and planning area. Visitors camping in the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness (which is closed to motorized vehicle use), the Mammoth Wash open area, and the area within one mile of the ISDRA boundary are required to purchase a week or season pass immediately upon arrival. A map of the ISDRA planning area can be seen at - http://www.ca.blm.gov/pdfs/elcentro_pdfs/mperialdunes/ohvpplanarea.pdf.

For further information, contact the BLM El Centro field office, 760-337-4400.

-BLM-

California Desert District
22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos
Moreno Valley, California - (951) 697-5220