Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

There’s two sides to the debate on law enforcement

Posted 3/4/15

I read with interest your article on the snowmobile enforcement complaints. It would be a good one for you to do a follow-up on sometime. I have done many ride-alongs with several different game …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

There’s two sides to the debate on law enforcement

Posted

I read with interest your article on the snowmobile enforcement complaints. It would be a good one for you to do a follow-up on sometime. I have done many ride-alongs with several different game wardens over the years, starting in the 1970s, just because I enjoy seeing those guys work. I have been with one of the wardens up there numerous times, even recently. I observed him, one day, issue way more warnings than tickets, where I thought tickets were due. If the folks quoted in the article want the old game wardens back, then they should go back to 1970s vintage snowmobiles, 16-foot Lund boats with 25 HP motors, and Lowrance Green Box flashers. In situations as you talked about in the article, had there been a tragedy, like someone’s child or family member getting hurt or killed on a trail, then the outcry would be “there were game wardens all over, why weren’t they doing their jobs?!”

I have heard complaints from families that enjoy snowmobiling but worry about the speed they often see on the trails with the new machines. Oh well, ALWAYS two sides to every story but might make an interesting follow-up sometime. Thanks!

Gerry Bermel

Fergus Falls, Minn.