Socal National Forest day use now free to residents

[z50king]

http://www.sgvtribune.com/general-ne...ts-judge-rules

A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can no longer charge fees to visitors who hike, walk and bike in the undeveloped regions of the Cleveland, Los Padres, Angeles and San Bernardino national forests.

U.S. District Court Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ruled in favor of four hikers who were tired of paying fees to hike in these popular Southern California forests, often called the backyard of Los Angeles.

The ruling is a victory for hikers and opponents of the 17-year-old federal Adventure Pass program.

The Forest Service improperly required all visitors to purchase the $5 daily or $30 annual pass upon entering any portion of these forests, even when they didn’t use developed facilities, according to the ruling.

Hatter’s ruling ordered the Forest Service to stop charging the fee to those who don’t use any services or developed facilities.

“The Forest Service is prohibited from charging a fee solely for parking,” Hatter wrote.

The Forest Service is reviewing last week’s ruling. In the meantime, visitors can park for free unless they use amenities like toilets or picnic tables.

“They can’t charge a person who doesn’t use the facilities,” said Matt Kenna, attorney for the hikers. “Just because there is a picnic table next to a trail head, they still can’t charge that person.”

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[CrawlSD]

Great news. Only got away with it for 17 years.

[z50king]

Developed parking lots are not exempt. We still have to pay at Forest Falls. Even if you don't use the bathrooms or the picnic drive in spots


A federal judge recently ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can only charge people for the use of amenities, such as bathrooms, developed parking lots, campgrounds and picnic tables. Requiring that visitors have a $5 daily or $30 annual Adventure Passsimply to park near a trailhead violates a law aimed at ensuring free access to federal land.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[Corrupt]

So you'd need to park somewhere else if you want to avoid paying.. and not use the restrooms or anything? Simply hiking/walking/biking the trail is free, but using the provided services (parking, restroom, tables) costs $. Seems legit.

-Corrupt

[z50king]

This was aimed at making us mot pay to park at unmarked parking places at trail heads or in open areas

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk