Is this legal?
Checking out reviews for a state park we plan to stay at and one of the newer post said that they pruned the branches so they could open their slide. Is that allowed?
Forum Discussion
Dutch_12078 wrote:spoon059 wrote:
Legal? You mean is there a law that allows or forbids someone from cutting a branch? Could a police officer come and ARREST you for cutting a branch? I highly doubt this is an issue of legality, more so its an issue of should I or shouldn't I.
Once again, I am happy to have a smaller travel trailer rather than a larger 5th wheel. I've never had any of these problems.
It might be considered vandalizing state property.
36 CFR 261.9 (USDA Forest Service) Damaging or removing any natural feature or other property of the United States.
36 CFR 2.1 (National Park Service) ) Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing from its natural state Plants or the parts or products thereof.
Of course, whether to actually cite you is left to the discretion of the Law Enforcement Officer. Often, they may choose to simply issue you a warning, especially if the infraction is minor. Or they may evict you from the campground, or they may issue you a citation (a ticket). Unless you are extremely unruly, they probably wouldn't physically arrest you (but that pretty much depends on your actions and response).
If the LEO issues a citation, the recipient must either pay the fine (forfeiture of collateral) or appear before a magistrate in the Court of Jurisdiction (go before the judge). If you are found guilty, you may end up paying the fee and paying court costs.
Here's some info about USFS Law Enforcement:
http://www.fs.fed.us/lei/enforcement.php
