BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (August 9, 2006) - At the invitation of Congressman Richard Pombo, Chairman of the House Committee on Resources, ORBA Vice President Jim McGarvie testified at a field hearing on "The Importance of Border Security on Federal Lands." Because of the excellent relationship ORBA-and the entire OHV community-has with Chairman Pombo and his staff, they wanted to get on public record the impact of border security upon our form of recreation.

McGarvie discussed the impact of border security upon OHV recreation, notably the closure of several dirt roads and trails-previously used for OHV recreation-in the name of homeland security. He also pointed out the irony in the fact that in a portion of the Southern California desert motorized vehicles are restricted to a few designated roads-and off-highway vehicles to only three of those-in the name of protecting resources, yet the Border Patrol commonly drives cross-country throughout the area in the performance of its duties.

McGarvie also emphasized the negative effect upon OHV recreation due to inadequate border security. As an example he talked about a portion of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area adjacent to the Mexican border, where drug trafficking and violent crime related to illegal border crossings are becoming increasingly commonplace. He referred specifically to an incident occurring in the Spring of 2005 in which off-roaders camping in the area were robbed at gunpoint, and shot at, by thieves that entered the country illegally and then fled back into Mexico.

As a final example McGarvie mentioned the wildfire which occurred in the mountains east of San Diego in July of this year. This fire, which consumed almost 17,000 acres-including parts of two wilderness areas and 80% of the closest and largest of only two OHV areas nearer San Diego than the desert-is believed by the authorities to have been caused by an untended campfire started by illegal immigrants.

McGarvie summarized by saying that, while there are certainly negative impacts upon our country due to inadequate border security that are more important than those to OHV recreation, the impacts to our sport are far from insignificant.