A two-day joint road raid: a minor drove an ATV without the right to do so, a minor

According to the State Forest Enterprise, the raid took place over two days in the territories of the regional divisions of Nemenčinė, Šalčininkai, Dubrava, Trakai and Kretinga of the State Forest Enterprise, where drivers often destroy private and state forests with powerful vehicles all terrain or cross country motorcycles.

“The quad is becoming more popular every year, and we realize that more and more quad do not choose to ride on the roads, but quite the opposite: they destroy the forest floor driving directly through forests, nature reserves or even trails Most of the forest floor is destroyed when driving after rain, in wet terrain, and then there are especially deep furrows.

With the start of the ATV season, we are beginning to monitor forests, foresters are building signs prohibiting the use of ATVs in forests, but this joint foray by foresters, officials and environmentalists is the biggest preventative measure against violations of traffic regulations and environmental requirements by ATVs. In the future, we will organize more than one such incursion, ”said Valdas Kaubre, head of the State Forest Company.

Although 8 offenders were identified during the raid, most ATV drivers had adequate vehicle documents and the right to drive them.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the destruction of nature, on the contrary, we must all protect it together. These criminals will continue to be in our spotlight, we will actively cooperate with the social partners,” says Renatas Požėla, General Commissioner of Police.

According to V. Kaubre, foresters expect increased awareness and responsibility of four-wheelers for the environment in which they travel, as more and more tracks are installed for four-wheeled sports and motorcycle enthusiasts, so Therefore, they will not drive off-road when choosing legal tracks. Damaging nature.

“The raid took place in many places in Lithuania, including the Paneriai Erosive Hill Landscape Reserve and the Grioviai State Geomorphological Reserve. As we work, we have seen that people who ride ATVs in illegal places threaten the most beautiful corners of nature. Although traveling on landscape reserves, educational trails, nearby mounds, other protected areas is prohibited, some ATV drivers do not pay attention to it. Suppose a mountain walk slides down a side of the mountain and damages a cultural layer that hides very little on the slopes. In addition, grass erosion forms foci of erosion and threatens to slide down the slopes, “Olga Vėbrienė, director of the Department of Environmental Protection, said in the SFE report.

The rules for the quad are governed by the Road Traffic Rules: Quads can be driven on the same roads as other motor vehicles. This means that driving off-road and on the natural forest floor is prohibited, emphasizes the SFE.