National Forest System Road System & Trails Occupancy & Use: Traffic Safety

Associated Documents

Forest Order

REGIONAL ORDER; NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM ROADS AND TRAILS OCCUPANCY AND USE
Traffic Safety

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System to include National Forests, National Scenic Areas, National Monuments and National Grasslands administered by the Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6) within the states of Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho as described below. This Order shall become effective for a period of four (4) years from the date signed unless rescinded.

National Forest System lands administered by the Pacific Northwest Region:

• Colville National Forest
• Umatilla National Forest
• Deschutes National Forest
• Umpqua National Forest
• Fremont-Winema National Forest
• Wallow-Whitman National Forest
• Gifford Pinchot National Forest
• Willamette National Forest
• Malheur National Forest
• Crooked River National Grassland
• Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
• Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
• Mt Hood National Forest
• Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
• Ochoco National Forest
• Cascade Head Scenic Research Area
• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
• Olympic National Forest
• Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument
• Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
• Newberry National Volcanic Monument
• Siuslaw National Forest

PROHIBITIONS:

1. Operating a vehicle in violation of the speed, load, weight, height, length, width or other limitations specified by
the order. [36 CFR§261.54(d)] This order prohibits the operation of motor vehicles in violation of Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho State law as specified below:

Oregon

• a. Speed, safety, mobile communication devices, equipment, and general driving rule violations as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapters 811 and 816.
• b. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs violations as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapters 811, 813, and 471.
• c. Vehicle registration violations as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 803.
• d. Operator license violations as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapters 807 and 811.
• e. Motorcycle and helmet violations as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapters 814.
• f. Insurance violations as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 806.
• g. Abandoned vehicle violations as prohibited in Oregon revised Statutes, Chapters 98 and 819.
• h. Snowmobiles, off road and all-terrain vehicles as prohibited in Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 821.

Washington

• a. Off-road, non-highway and wheeled all-terrain vehicle violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.09.
• b. Snowmobile violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.10.
• c. Drivers’ license violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.20.
• d. Vehicle lighting and other equipment violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.37.
• e. Size, weight and load violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.44.
• f. Rules of the road violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.61.
• g. Insurance violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.30.
• h. Vehicle registration violations as prohibited in Revised Code of Washington, Title 46, Chapter 46.16A 

California (The following restrictions apply to the portion of the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest that lies within the boundaries of the state of California)

• a. Operating a motor vehicle without a valid vehicle registration as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 4000.
• b. Operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 12500 (a) through (d).
• c. Operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 14601 through 14601.5
• d. Turning a motor vehicle without using an appropriate turn signal as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 22107.
• e. Operating a motor vehicle at a speed greater than 55 miles per hour, unless posted otherwise as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 22349 (b).
• f. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any alcoholic beverage and/or drug as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 23152.
• g. Operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device, unless in hands-free operation mode as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 23123.5 (a).
• h. Operating a motor vehicle that is in an unsafe condition as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 24002.
• i. Operating a motor vehicle without the proper restraint by a safety belt as prohibited by California Vehicle Code 27315 (d) (1).

Idaho (The following restrictions apply to the portions of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area that lie within the boundary of the state of Idaho)

• a. Operator license violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 3
• b. Vehicle registration violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 4
• c. Rules of the Road violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 6
• d. Vehicle equipment violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 9
• e. Insurance violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 12
• f. Accident violations as prohibited by Idaho Code, Title 4, chapter 13
• g. Texting while driving as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 14
• h. Traffic infraction violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 15
• i. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs violations as prohibited in Idaho Code, Title 18; Chapter 80.

2. Operating a vehicle carelessly, recklessly, or without regard for the rights or safety of other persons or in a manner or at a speed that would endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. [36 CFR § 261.54(f)]

3. Parking or leaving a vehicle in violation of posted instructions. [36 CFR § 261.58(g)]

4. Using a National Forest System road for commercial hauling without a permit or written authorization. [36 CFR §261.54(c)] This order prohibits use of National Forest System Roads for commercial hauling purposes without written authorization from the Forest Service.

5. Using any type of vehicle prohibited by order. [36 CFR § 261.54(a)] This order prohibits the use of construction equipment, earthwork equipment, snow removal, or grooming equipment on National Forest System roads without a permit or written authorization from the Forest Service.

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

1. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are necessary to protect public health and safety and to provide the public consistent public health and safety guidelines in the Pacific Northwest Region in alignment with similar State and local laws and regulations. These prohibitions are in addition to general prohibitions pursuant to 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A. Violations of this prohibition are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581).

Executed in Portland, Oregon, this day of , 2021.
_______________________
GLENN CASAMASSA
Regional Forester
Pacific Northwest Region
Date: 2021.09.23
11:23:05 -07'00

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