New law enforcement activity on the Vilas County ATV trails has produced results according to a report to the Vilas County Recreation Trails committee last week after the county entered into a two year lease with Track Side for patrol by a Sheriff's department deputy.
Deputy Jason Molle indicated as of early June he did just over 85 hours of ATV patrol on all county towns with open ATV roads and trails and issues 11 citations, 11 written warnings, and numerous verbal warnings.
There have been two ATV accidents on town roads; one in Presque Isle and one in Lac du Flambeau. Both of these municipalities have no town roads open for ATV travel. There have been no bicycle accidents reported to Vilas County.
DNR Warden Tim Price reported they have acquired a four person military style UTV stored at the Eagle River DNR ranger facility which can be used for patrol and rescue transport if needed. He indicated there has been illegal ATV travel on state highway right-of-ways, especially on the snowmobile trail along Highway 70 east of Eagle River.
Price also said it was pointed out the lake sign at Eagle Lake boat landing could be causing confusion on winter lake travel by ATV's. “The snowmobile route in winter is marked with orange barrels but the sign shows summer trail locations which an ATV might interpret an ATV might use to get gas, for instance, at Boat Sport,” Price said. “This needs to be looked at and maybe covered up during winter.”
Molle reported over 85 hours of boat patrol with three citations issued and nine written warnings.
