Burleigh co. Ditches debate

[Rowdie]

 

[SDMF]

I'm sure there's plenty not to love about all manner of motorized equipment running through the ditch out front at all hours of the day. I bet there's places it's hard to keep a Mail Box in place and serviceable during some parts of the year.

"Ditch Riding" snowmobiles and/or ATV's hasn't ever really done it for me. I guess I've done both on rare occasions, I supposed most often from the campground to the truck-stop when I didn't feel like unhooking the boat or dragging it around either.

 

[riverview]

come on man there is people without driver license's that need those ditches to get around.

 

[tikkalover]

I’ll be that guy.
If they wouldn’t drive/ride in the ditches when they are wet and purposely drive though every mud hole and not slam on the gas when going over/jumping an approach and ripping up the grass maybe land owners wouldn’t be complaining.

Wonder how much the counties and cities spend on repairing ditches?

 

[Jiffy]

Hmmmmm…..landowners complain?

Naaaaaaaahh!! I don’t believe it.

 

[Scooby-Doo Do]

The erosion from some stretches of ditches is understably a concern, let alone the noise.

 

[ndrivrrat]

This debate is already done. They only needed to have this debate tonight because of law. This will be passed, which it shouldnt be, because Bittner having a personal vendetta and a couple familys, Fettigs being the main ones.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Are there marked and groomed snowmobile trails in the ditches ?

 

[Obi-Wan]

This debate is already done. They only needed to have this debate tonight because of law. This will be passed, which it shouldnt be, because Bittner having a personal vendetta and a couple familys, Fettigs being the main ones.

it written to exempt Bitner’s use in the manner he thinks is acceptable use of the vehicles.

 

[bucksnbears]

What does Jeff think?

 

[7mmMag]

I'm not a Burleigh County resident, so I don't have a personal stake in this but after reading this post I started digging into it, and I have to say a county wide ban on OHV riding in ditches is absolutely absurd.

 

[Obi-Wan]

For those that testified that they fenced up to the road because they own to the center of the road they may want to look at the ND century code, talk to their attorney, and insurance company for the legal and civil jeopardy they put themselves in.

it is illegal to place permanent obstructions, such as fences, stones, or rubbish, within the road right-of-way or within 33 feet of a section line in North Dakota without official permission
. Obstructions that hinder public travel or violate highway safety are prohibited.

 

[Traxion]

Are there marked and groomed snowmobile trails in the ditches ?

No dog in this fight, but the main issue is erosion from what I've seen. Sleds do nothing compared to side by sides. Drive through the Black Hills and it's easy to see the damage and what the cause is.

Putting barries in ditches is illegal no matter what from my understanding. Sounds like a fun meeting!

 

[ktm450]

Are there marked and groomed snowmobile trails in the ditches ?

yes there is, the Rough Rider snowmobile club puts them in the ditch in the fall and takes down in the spring.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I’ll be that guy.
If they wouldn’t drive/ride in the ditches when they are wet and purposely drive though every mud hole and not slam on the gas when going over/jumping an approach and ripping up the grass maybe land owners wouldn’t be complaining.

Wonder how much the counties and cities spend on repairing ditches?

Im thinking they havent spent much or any yet... maybe they should budget some to do that?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Here are some of the rules they are proposing, it would essentially make it illegal to ride ANY 4 wheeler in a ditch or on a road in Burleigh county. None that I know of come with seatbelts, and the 550cc rule also is kind of bullshit. Of course many wont follow those rules, but it gives the police something new to harass people about. I know where my land is, in apple creek township, all the neighbors ride ATV's and side by sides around pretty much constantly during the summer. Seems like a lot of overreach...

 

[ndlongshot]

Typical. Bitch about kids not getting outside and then shut down every form of recreation. This is because of some whiny landowners who have nothing better to do than measure the length of their grass with a ruler. Get a life...

And shutting down the entire county is comical. Are they going to enforce all the way north of Wing?

As a protest they should have a parade on the 4th of July with every Tom Dick and Harry out riding their UTV/ATV's all over the city.

I'd support a ban of the damn things in traffic in town, first!

 

[Davy Crockett]

yes there is, the Rough Rider snowmobile club puts them in the ditch in the fall and takes down in the spring.

That's a slippery slope , a county telling a state funded club that they can't ride on state property. You would think the states attorney would be able to solve that can of worms over the phone.

 

[Allen]

While I am sure many of you've seen it, up northeast of Bismarck on north 80th, there's a guy who built a sucker rod fence right up to the county right-of-way in his ditch. I would have thought he'd be concerned about constructing a clear hazard to any car sliding off the road when icy, but the county said they can do basically nothing because it's built on his side of the county's right of way.

I only point this out to highlight that current Burleigh County rules allow someone to routinely trespass onto what can be private, posted land.

My driveway opens onto a road with a fair amount of ditch riders. Trees block the view of riders on my side of the right-of-way until they almost Wile E. Coyote into the side of my vehicle as they jump my approach.

Let's face it, the only reason ditch riding for entertainment became legal is because some people thought selling off-road vehicles to others who had no other place to ride them would spur economic development.

As it turns out, people are once again their own worst enemies.

 

[Allen]

Yes, the erosion in my ditch from OHV traffic is annoying and pretty much makes the ditch not worth haying. But I'll take that over the trash that people throw out of their vehicles. I dream of the day I catch sight of a Dove ice cream bar wrapper flying out of someone's vehicle as they drive past my place.