News

Sheriff's Department to start ticketing the owners of golf carts who break the law

By Scott Wagar

07/24/2012

The Bottineau County Sheriff’s Department is going to be out in full force ticketing individuals who are using golf carts, dirt bikes and four-wheelers on Lake Metigoshe’s Hiking and Biking Trail and roads due to the large number of people who are using the trail and roads illegally and driving careless on them.

“We have had a lot of residents at the lake filing complaints with us because there have been some close calls between cars and recreational vehicles,” said Steve Watson, sheriff of Bottineau County. “No motor vehicles are allowed on the hiking and biking trail or roads. If we catch anybody on the trail or roads with a recreational vehicle we are going to be fining them $25.”

Watson stated that the majority of incidents this summer on the hiking and biking trail and roads were young people without parental guidance.

However, he added that no matter what age individuals are (adult or young person) they are not allowed on the bike trail or roads with any type of recreational vehicles.

“A lot of them are kids who are not paying attention. We fear the kids getting hit by cars crossing over the hiking and biking trail to their residence, or the kids hitting someone using the trail,” Watson said. “If a car comes along, all it takes is a second for someone to get hurt, or become a fatality, and we do not want that to happen.”

For those individuals who want to use these types of recreational vehicles, Watson said they must trailer their motor vehicles and haul them to their destination.

When it comes to the cities in Bottineau County, Watson said those who are the appropriate age can drive recreational vehicles like a golf cart.

However, Watson added that they must obey the laws of motor vehicles or they will be stopped and ticketed.  

For the remainder of the summer, because of all the close calls that have happened, and the number of individuals who are using the hiking and biking trail illegally, the local sheriff department will be out patrolling and fining those who use motor vehicles on the lake’s trail.