idea on how to ID use from others

Lukipela · Post by **Lukipela** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:46 am

Well if you have ever been to an off road park you should know what i am proposing. Most off road parks like Paragon make you run a flag to show that you are allowed to be on the trail. I think that we should make club flags for paid members so that we could run them when on the trail and people could distinguish us from non members. Land owners could be notified to look for the flag to tell if it is one of use they are having a problem with. Then they could notify the club officers who could then deal with the miss behaving member. This would also bring some of the heat off the club by showing that we respect the land and are not the ones tearing it up. Now i have idea on the cost of designing trail flags but if i had one i know i would use it.

Post by **hklvette** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:21 am

That sounds like a really good idea! Especially if we could get other clubs to make their own flags.

Lukipela · Post by **Lukipela** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:25 am

yea i do some of my best thinking in the shower

which is where i thought this up.

YouTube · Post by **TerryD** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:53 am

i'm up for it......antenna balls anyone?? lol but seriously! sounds like an idea if we can get other clubs and locals to comit to it!

Post by **Steinberg** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:00 pm

it would help identify our club- yes, but it does not address the need to stop trail abuse by those outside of our club. I suspect that most of the landowners having major issues with trail use rarely see us go by. it's the damage left on the trail that is noticed.

YouTube · Post by **TerryD** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:04 pm

well, with that in mind, how do we stop trail abuse that we're not in connection with? we'd have to patrol the trails almost non stop unless we have a means of mass communication. but the news papers and things like that are mostly anti-people-doing-things-in-vehicles-that's-not-DDing. they'll turn our plea for help into an attack on us for doing what we're fighting against.

another thought though. is there anyway to organize an officers meeting w/ the officers of other 4wd clubs around and discuss all the happenings? maybe invite the rangers and forrest service reps to be there and then they can take what they learn/decide to their respective clubs and we'll at least have a little organization between the clubs, then it can spread from there.

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:07 pm

maybe if we were to report things that happen that we do see (a certain sammy and xj comes to mind) instead of just making fun of them on the board, we'll get some extra points with the land owners.

Post by **Yoda** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:36 pm

put up some of those surveillance cameras like those ones they have for hunting to track deer. i know at least one of you probably has your hands on some.

in general those who are "disrepsecting" the trails are probably doing it on more than one occassion.

Lukipela · Post by **Lukipela** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:50 pm

Yoda wrote:put up some of those surveillance cameras like those ones they have for hunting to track deer. i know at least one of you probably has your hands on some. in general those who are "disrepsecting" the trails are probably doing it on more than one occassion.

Yeah that would be a good idea but the locals would just take them.

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:47 pm

BTW, I really like the flag idea.

Post by **MILLER** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:10 pm

I like the flag idea also,

Post by **BlueDodgeRam** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:19 pm

me too

Post by **alk1174** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:59 pm

About a year ago I looked into getting small rectangular banners or flags made with the club logo on them. There was an initial cost of like 75$ for the first one and 5$ to 10$ for each additional one cant remember exactly. It was not for this purpose but could work. I personally dont know if it is such a good idea to draw attention to yourself or not? There are already enough haters to the sport without them knowing who to attack.

Post by **Ctrow** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:11 pm

I think the flags would be a good idea, however we will always get blamed for the damage caused by others. Rarely is it the people in clubs that are tearing up the land. Like Krantz said, flags could either help our case or just give more people a name to report. If we do get flags, we should fly them during trail clean ups also

Post by **Fonger** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:23 pm

First of all you can't patrol the trail 24-7 and I don't expect anyone to. You cannot control everyone and there will always be someone who tears up the trail and makes us look like the bad guys. All I want everyone to do is be responsible for themselves and their vehicles and do what you can to keep the trail open. Eventually you'll run across someone who isn't Treading Lightly and please mention something to them and offer assistance (as long as you deem the situation to be safe). But sometimes you can't get through, so then just leave and call the Rangers or Sheriff and let them take care of it. Just do what you can and help spread the word that the trails are being patrolled and are in danger of being closed. Remember that these trails are a privilege and not a right, just keep that in mind when you're out there.

As far as the flags go I'm afraid that it will attract negative attention to the club. People will then have some way to identify people out on the trail. Even if we aren't to blame for damage done we will get dragged in deeper with guilt by association (which we are already dealing with now) I'm just nervous that this will make it worse.