Signs posted...says no ATVs in the ditch!

[Go Faster]

Are they able to take any section of ditch and post signs saying no ATVs?  It that legal since the state law specifically says it legal and does not say that sections can be excluded?  The section of highway 17 from Sioux Falls to Lennox where I usually ride just got signs posted and there are several other areas by Harrisburg with signs too.  I thought the ditch was public right of way and considered part of the road.  Looking for a new place to ride now I guess. 

[stumper]

Posts The South Dakota Transportation Commission has closed the roadside ditches of three segments of state highways to off-road vehicles.

They are:
- Highway 115 from Sioux Falls to Dell Rapids
- Highway 11 through and North of Garretson
- Highway 17 from Lennox to the intersection of Highway 42

Officials say the sections have received a considerable amount of damage from off-road vehicles. The closure does not apply to snowmobiles, off-road vehicles used in normal agricultural operations or those used to service
utilities such as gas, water, sewer, pipeline or telecommunications services.

The state DOT will begin placing signs marking the restricted areas in the next couple of weeks. Violation a Class 2 Misdemeanor.

[Go Faster]

Well I guess that explains it.  Thanks stumper. 

I think this is a case of a few morons runining it for everyone.  Although virtually all of the areas where the grass is warn down is ag use and the areas where there is houses most folks were smart enough to ride on the road or at least not in the same spot and hammer the throttle all the time.  I did see one spot just before Lennox where someone had left ruts by driving in a wet area and backing out.  I doubt the farmers would care about tracks in the ditch but I can see that a home owner would not be pleased about it.

[rundrave]

there have been signs all over lincoln county out by harriburg etc for a few months now, I first noticed them this last summer.

I dont see the logic, atv's have been riding the ditches for years. if people from the city that move to the country want a nice green lawn they can stay in town.

[sdslw]

A guy by the name of Dave Hoffman in Lincoln county got the signs put up over by Harrisburg.  He wanted snowmobiles banned also.  He claims that a snowmobile jumped over the hood of his daughters car.  I think he is full of sh!t.  He lead the effort in front of the Lincoln County commission to make the law.  The signs that I see on my way to Harrisburg are on stretches of ditch that don't have any ATV tracks in them and never have, the grass is 4ft tall so the tracks would have shown really well.

But, then again this is the same piece of work that led the campaign against the Harrisburg school bonds when they were trying to build the High School and another elementary school.  His kids don't go there, he pays extra for them to go to Ogorman.