| ATVs or four-wheelers, are undoubtedly helpful to | | | | juvenile fish and invertebrates that may take many |
| anyone who travels off-road for work, hunting or | | | | years to overcome.Then there is always the use and |
| just enjoys the countryside. Unfortunately they are | | | | abuse of alcohol. There are many underage drivers |
| getting a bad reputation because of careless use and | | | | that believe there are no speeding tickets or DUIs |
| a sometimes lack of courtesy and respect by some | | | | while driving on private property or in the woods. |
| users.These handy little vehicles can be hauled in the | | | | This is not to say that the use of any mind altering |
| bed of a truck or on a small trailer behind a truck | | | | impairing substance is a good idea while operating a |
| ready to carry you off road to the trail ,across the | | | | piece of machinery by anyone, but young people |
| fields or into the woods at a moment's notice. How | | | | with less experience tend to make more errors in |
| helpful this can be for an elderly or person with some | | | | judgement as a whole. Get alcohol involved and |
| physical impairment who may not have the | | | | things can really get dangerous. There are many |
| endurance level of their youth. For these individuals, | | | | known cases of underage riders as young as thirteen |
| ATVs make a jaunt through the woods that would | | | | being apprehended hauling coolers full of beer. If a |
| otherwise be a fond memory an | | | | rider is caught carrying crystal methamphetamine |
| actuality.Unfortunately, as with most inventions there | | | | while riding on a streambed, this could bring about a |
| is a downside. Where 4-wheelers give freedom of | | | | search and possibly a felony conviction.Young drivers |
| movement to those who might be restricted in | | | | often make the mistake of using their family ATV or |
| movement, they also give trespassers a leg up on | | | | motorcycle to ride on public roads. They think this is |
| landowners.Imagine the shock when a property | | | | a way to start driving before reaching the legal age. |
| owner finds that four-wheelers or ATVs have | | | | Never mind that the laws are there to protect them. |
| designated a portion of his land as a main | | | | How many times do we hear of accidents involving |
| thoroughfare. Many farms and homesteads contain | | | | ATVs and other vehicles on the public highways? |
| creeks and streams that have weekend destinations | | | | Needless to say, there is very few times in such a |
| for years. At least they were before the 4-wheelers | | | | situation that the ATV rider comes out well.If you |
| moved in.Many kids and adults alike ignore the fact | | | | own an ATV and have children at home, it would be |
| that in some states there is a public waterways law. | | | | in their best interests for you to review the |
| This is a law that states that any person that rides a | | | | guidelines for them as to their safe and legal usage. |
| motorized vehicle within the bed of any public | | | | Don't wait for the authorities to come knocking on |
| waterway without written permission granted by the | | | | your door to have this conversation. Where the law |
| landowner is breaking the law and may be | | | | is concerned ignorance is no excuse and you as |
| punished.The disturbance of streambeds and banks is | | | | parents may find yourselves responsible for damages |
| prohibited as well. Trespassing is bad enough, but | | | | caused or worse yet having to deal with a personal |
| there are environmental reasons behind this ruling. | | | | tragedy that could have been avoided.By Evo |
| The stirred sediment is disruptive to the natural | | | | CummingsUse of this article requires an active link to |
| ecosystem. The fish eggs are suffocated as well as | | | | Evo Cummings has been an avid motorcycle and |
| the insect eggs and larvae that feed the fish | | | | ATV enthusiast for years. He is the owner of a bike |
| according to a brochure distributed by the Mississippi | | | | building, customizing and repair shop which has |
| Museum of Natural Science. A fun weekend zipping | | | | produced more than one award winning custom built |
| through the creek beds takes a countless toll on | | | | motorcycle. |