Trinity County Municipal Code Ch. 12.15 Use of Vehicles in Off-Road Areas Near Ruth Lake

For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:

"Area near Ruth Lake" means:

Beginning at the east side by the County Road 501, known as Mad River Road, known as County Road 502, known as the Ruth-Zenia Road, and County Road 514, known as Rodeo Drive, County Road 536 known as Buckwheat Lane, and south to County Road 526 known as Ruth Airport Road, and bound on the south by the summer crossing at Cedar Gap Road near the USDA Forest Service Ruth Guard Station.

"Conveyance" means any means of travel across the ground or water which may be utilized by human beings and makes actual contact with either the ground or the water crossed.

"Motor vehicle" means a conveyance that is propelled by a motor. This definition specifically includes all types of motorcycles, motor scooters, motorized tricycles, and three- and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles.

(Ord. No. 1322, § 1, 7-19-11)

A. The area near Ruth Lake, as defined in Municipal Code Section 12.15.010, is hereafter closed to off-road travel by any motor vehicle.

B. The following shall not be subject to prohibition set forth in subsection A:

1. Motor vehicle travel by persons, firms, and corporations working within the terms of a valid timber harvest plan, but only to the extent that such travel is necessary as a part of such timber harvest plan;

2. Motor vehicle travel by any person, firm or corporation having a valid entry permit authorized and issued by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District or Ruth Lake Community Services District Board;

3. Motor vehicle travel by police, fire, ambulance, and United States Forest Service vehicles when personnel utilizing such vehicles are engaged in the lawful performance of their duties;

4. Motor vehicle travel on private land;

5. Motor vehicle travel to access any established picnic, river-access, or public swimming site, as designated by appropriate signs, provided that such travel occurs only during the times in which such access is authorized, and the course of travel does not deviate from that which is necessary to access the site from public roads; and

6. Motor vehicle travel in areas expressly indicated as "designated riding areas" by the Ruth Lake Community Services District and so designated by the placement of appropriate signs.

(Ord. No. 1322, § 2, 7-19-11)

Operation of a motor vehicle in the area near Ruth Lake as defined in Section 12.15.010 in a manner not authorized by the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars for the first violation, two hundred dollars for the second violation, and five hundred dollars for any additional violation.

(Ord. No. 1322, § 3, 7-19-11)

The prohibitions set forth in this chapter shall not take effect, nor remain in effect, unless the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and/or the Ruth Lake Community Services District, or any successor to those districts, installs and maintains along all county road entrances to the area near Ruth Lake, as defined in Section 12.15.010, signs indicating the existence of the ordinance codified in this chapter by its ordinance number, the activities proscribed by this chapter, and the penalties and consequences for violations of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1322, § 1, 7-19-11)