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