Our Great State is known for its friendliness to recreational travel, and among favorites for such travel is the Caswell Lakes region. Unfortunately, that friendliness is expressed by Law Enforcement authorities, who turn a blind eye to blatant illegal use of roadways by ATVers and snow-machine riders. The same cannot be said for the offended residents of that region. Among other effects of such behavior, the Law itself suffers most. Title 10 of the Alaska State Code makes clear its intent on this matter, yet offenders and Enforcement officials alike blithely ignore it at the expense of the tranquility and safety of the community along with the people who occupy it.
The pair of riders depicted in the photo above are clearly enjoying themselves on Amundsen Road this pristine mid-March afternoon. Not so enjoyable is the danger they pose to other, legal, roadway users in the area. This reporter has more than once been confronted, on this same road under similar circumstances, by the choice of 'ditching' his vehicle -- a risky meneuver in these environs -- or taking another human life. Others in the area report incidents where such machinery has been used to threaten lethal reprisals in response to confrontation on the issue of Title 10 violations. Casual pedestrians, whom are afforded reasonable, and legal, right-of-way on these roadways, are similarly threatened, if not quite so intentionally. Due to road-use by ATVs/snowmachines, parents, pets, and children alike are at risk in their leagl recreational activities in these areas. As yet, no authority with the power to mitigate that risk has acted in such manner as to do so. Indeed, the apathy of those authorities has proven deplorable, if not outright criminal, when seen in this light.
At odds with reason is the fact that locals, whom have made an effort to advise such offenders of the laws concerning their reckless behavior, have been turned aside by State Law enforcement officials, who advise against pressing charges, even in the face of outright physical assault, personal battery, and assault with deadly weapons by those offenders. While it is understandable that these incidents go generally unwitnessed, and as such tend to be rarely, if ever, successfully prosecuted, it must be understood that the very effort itself of such prosecution serves to advise the public of its obligations under the law. In the woeful absence of even that effort, would-be offenders are encouraged in their bad behavior, taking with them to the scene of the crime the comfort of near immunity to that law. The very resistance, nay, the outright refusal, by Law enforcement officials, to conduct even a cursory investigation, or to show even a lackluster desire to serve the law to which they are sworn, only serves to reinforce this attitude.
Yes, let it be known that Alaska is a friendly state, especially to those living deliberately at odds with reason and rational behavior. Come one, come all you felonies, all are welcome and anything goes -- as long as you don't try to enforce the law.
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