What constitutes a "recreational vehicle"?

[jage]

I met some offroaders near leadville who drove a snowy "road", I think maybe around Hagerman Pass. There were definite vehicle tracks and snowmobiles. It was marked on the GPS. Nobody got stranded, but when they came out they found cops waiting and got tickets. The entry point to the road had an 8' snow mound there was a sign that said "Recreational Vehicles Only". No one in the group had (or voiced I guess) any understanding of what the sign meant.

So- I've only been in CO since January and I'm confused- what does "Recreational Vehicles Only" mean exactly? Were they on an ATV only trail or something? If the sign means "ATVs and Snowmobiles Only" why doesn't it say that?

This is the first group I met who actively sought to go out in the snow, however they were decidedly unprepared :rant: for any type of wheeling.

PS. There were Stop signs and speed limit signs on the "road" as well.

[jimfoo]

Never seen a sign like that. OHV's only, yes. That means motorcycle or ATV, I believe something under 40" or 44" width, and they need an OHV sticker. Most if not all legal trails in the forest have a trail number and stickers of vehicles or crossed out vehicles so you know what is and isn't allowed on them. To me, a recreational vehicle is a motorhome. Maybe they were on a private road.

[Steve]

Never seen a sign like that.

Same here. They're usually like this:

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/r8/boone/recreation/images/marktrail.jpg

If any kind of motorized vehicle is allowed it'll have more little pics of motorcycles, ATVs and a JP. If there's a red line through one it means it's not allowed.

[jage]

Seen those signs, this was different. It was like a park sign, brown with white letters.

Downloaded a GPS file, the road was CR-9 which goes through Tennessee Park. We, er, uh "they" got 0.3 miles past CR-9b before turning back.

[mtntj]

In the winter time some roads(ex. COttonwood Pass/cr306) becomes snowmobiles, or skiis only.

[teamextreme]

In the winter time some roads(ex. COttonwood Pass/cr306) becomes snowmobiles, or skiis only.
X2, there are seasonal closures on a lot of roads. So a perfectly legal road to travel on in the summer becomes off-limits during the winter. Forest Service maps show these closures. I also have never heard of the RV term used. Doesn't sound like anything of FS land to me.

[jage]

Yeah I heard more from one of the guys who got a ticket:
We were apparently turned into the Park County Sheriff?s department numerous times yesterday for ?disturbing the snowmobile trails?. When [we came out] we had a nice squad SUV waiting for us. The Sheriff was happy to give us all tickets for driving in a recreational area only designed to accommodate recreational vehicles in the winter. We pleaded our case that Jeeps were recreational vehicles but the Sheriff wouldn?t buy it and gave us a lesson on what is considered a ?recreational vehicle?. Apparently our Jeeps are only recreational vehicles if they have ?snow tracks? for wheels.

So all the snowmobiler's turned the group in. There are pictures of about six at different times and at least one pair using their cell phones right next to the group in the background. Who knew they'd just dial 911 instead of saying something.

They've only got the WHOLE park and surrounding area to play in as evidenced by the tracks criss crossing the road and going out into the fields, broken off trees where they just plain run over them, trash everywhere... and the Jeeps are the bad guys. I understand the Jeeps were in the wrong, legally, but it still seems like a prick move to call the cops without talking to them.

Thanks for the replies!