Curry OHV bill passes House

DENVER — A bill that puts more teeth into enforcing travel restrictions on ATVs and other off-highway vehicles in Colorado was passed by the Colorado House of Representatives Wednesday.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, whose district includes Aspen. House Bill 1069 allows state law enforcement officials to write tickets for illegal incursions by off-highway vehicles onto federal land. It also creates penalties for anyone found guilty of violating closed areas and trails.

“Enforcement will be incidental; when an officer happens upon a violation, he can enforce the law,” said a press release from the House Democrats’ office.

The bill passed by a vote of 43 to 22 after winning approval in a voice vote on Tuesday. It will now go to the state Senate for consideration. The bill was supported by a coalition of hunting, fishing and environmental interests.

“We need to protect the long-term use of Colorado’s public lands without diminishing the quality of the recreational experiences we all cherish in this state,” Curry said in a prepared statement. “I’m proud to say that we worked long and hard to create legislation that will provide a long-term a solution for using public land in a more sustainable way while recognizing the stewardship ethic that already exists.”