MEXICO, Maine — At least a dozen directional trail signs have been stolen or destroyed on ATV trails in Mexico and Roxbury.
Mexico police Lt. Roy Hodsdon said the discoveries were made when police patrolled more than 120 miles of trails Friday and Sunday last week.
The special patrols are funded by a $2,500 grant from the Department of Inland and Fisheries and Wildlife.
“People who aren’t familiar with the trails can get lost,” if there are no signs, Hodsdon said.
During last week’s special patrols, he said more than three dozen ATVs or dirt bikes were met on the trails. No serious infractions were discovered, although a few were warned to stay on the trails.
The grant will cover special patrols until the end of July. He said he plans to apply for another one.
He said the trail signs will likely be replaced within the next week or so.
Since June 13, Mexico police officers have responded to 24 complaints.
Among them are:
— Circle K convenience store, formerly known as Food Trend, reported at 5:05 p.m. June 16 that someone had driven off without paying $29 for gasoline.
— A Parker Street resident reported the theft of his 30-30 rifle, valued at $300, at 8:52 p.m. June 13. The rifle was turned in to the Mexico Police Department. Charges are pending.
— A Main Street resident reported the theft of a set of moose antlers from his garage at 7:33 p.m. June 13. A witness recognized two boys from Granite Street who entered the garage and reported their names to the owner. The antlers were returned. Theft charges against the boys are pending.
— A Harlow Hill resident reported the theft of her grandson’s bicycle, valued at $100, from her porch at 4:15 p.m. June 13.
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i believe that inland fisheries and wildlife should give the control of trails and marking as well as use fee’s to the MSA we should allow them to control the monies and the marking and creation of all trails as multi use and enforcment of laws will come down to lawfull entities such as IFW, state police , county police and local law enforcement. let the people who are using these systems maintain and create and keep enforcement where it belongs. a win -win in my thoughts or perspective.
You will see that local clubs do put up the signs an clear trails
Never gonna work when the MSA does not get along with ATV. When the MSA realizes that the ATV clubs also fix and trim trail and they will be better for the snowmobiles in the winter ect… then maybe they can get along, not to mention that a lot of snowmobile owners also own ATVs. Was a trail master for an ATV club for 5 years I gave up trying to get along with MSA.
Trails are maintained through DOC, not IFW.
These sign get stolen all the time, and put up else where, because it says you have to be on a marked trail, so if there are signs up, then you don’t get a ticket ect… whish I had a doll for every sign we have to replace behind the airline snackbar.
You don’t suppose that the landowners got feed up and took them down do ya?
In some instances I don’t blame them! Some of these dimwits leave a trail of beer cans that they can follow home in a pinch anyway!
It must be a slow news day