WooHoo!!!! no more dickheads on the con

[Desert Dog]

EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) — The El Dorado County Sheriff says he’s not happy with the U.S. Forest Service, so he’s stripping them of their authority by keeping them from enforcing state law within the county.

Sheriff John D’Agostini is taking the unusual step of pulling the police powers from the federal agency because he says he has received “numerous, numerous complaints.”

In a letter obtained by CBS13, the sheriff informs the federal agency that its officers will no longer be able to enforce California state law anywhere in his county.

“I take the service that we provide to the citizens of El Dorado County and the visitors to El Dorado County very seriously, and the style and manner of service we provide,” D’Agostini said. “The U.S. Forest Service, after many attempts and given many opportunities, has failed to meet that standard.”

The sheriff won’t give specifics, but he says he’s concerned about the number of complaints his department’s received against the federal officers.

We asked law professor John Myers if the sheriff’s actions can supercede the feds.

“Looks to me as though the sheriff can do this,” he said. “They don’t have state powers in the first place, but essentially the sheriff can deputize individuals to have authority in his or her jurisdiction.”

The U.S. Forest Services wouldn’t comment beyond this statement:

“The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement has not received this letter yet, but we have valued our partnership and good working relationship with the county over the years.”

But with limited resources and such a large area to patrol, some may be concerned that public safety may be compromised.

We asked the sheriff whether this will increase response times.

“It could be, but I doubt it.”

But the bottom line for campers is knowing someone will come when they call and report a crime.

D’Agostini’s order will go into effect on July 22, and for now, there’s no resolution in sight.
__________________

[robnoxious1]

What kinds of things were the feds doing?

[Desert Dog]

There was a couple of rangers on the con writing tickets for everything. If you flopped and cracked your window on the trail - they were there to write you a ticket. No front plate - rangers would write you a ticket on the trail. They loved writing tickets for "open container" when people would pack their empty beer cans out with trash. Then, over the years, they felt the need to go after guns and green-sticker vehicles. USFS management not only knew about the behavior, but encouraged it. They went way beyond just being another branch of the Sierra Club.

Here is a quote from a CO at the local jail:
[i]"I was a CO at the Placerville jail. I processed many bookings for the FS. There were incidents that we actually ordered them to remove subjects from our jail due to the fact that there was no written statute for which he wanted to book his subject on. He scared me to a point that I stopped going into my local forrests to shoot for a few years knowing I could be wrongfully arrested, which could have threatened my employment. Such as parking further than 6 inchs off in the dirt of a designated road."[/i]

The Sheriff of El Dorado County basically stripped them of their ability to enforce state/local law, including the vehicle code. Sheriffs in Oregon and Utah recently did the same.

[robnoxious1]

Thanks. Sounds pretty un-American to me. Looks like it goes into effect before my trip to so thats a bonus.

[JeremyRowell]

Very interesting... From Sac CBS:

PLACERVILLE (CBS13) — The fight that has the El Dorado County sheriff planning to revoke a federal agency’s enforcement power in his county is apparently over residents’ rights to carry guns.

Cory Ward is an avid outdoorsman who frequents the El Dorado National forest. But he’s concerned this paradise could turn into a police state.
“I have felt intimidated,” he said.
He’s got a long list of complaints against federal officers who patrol the forest.
“They want to know what you’re doing here, where you’re going, do you have any firearms on board.”

It appears this exploding confrontation between Sheriff John D’Agostini and the U.S. Forest service may come down to guns, and the right to carry them, and whether U.S. citizens are allowed to bring them onto federal land.

The sheriff’s department says they’ve received more than 50 complaints from people just out enjoying the woods when they were stopped by an overly aggressive forest service officer.

Some of these experiences have been posted on Internet chat rooms with people demanding the sheriff get involved.

And last week, he pulled the federal officers’ powers to enforce state laws in his jurisdiction, effective July 22.

A U.S Forest Service spokesman said the agency met with the sheriff Wednesday to try and work out their differences.

“It hasn’t happened anywhere else in this state,” said John Heil. “We hope that the relationship will continue and we will look for ways to improve.”

But as for Cory, he just wants to enjoy the forest without fearing the feds.

“This is your land, this is my land, this is everybody’s land,” he said, “And we don’t want to come here anymore.”

The forest service said it will affect the seven forest service officers who patrol the area, though they’ll still be able to enforce federal laws and restrictions.

[robnoxious1]

"though they’ll still be able to enforce federal laws and restrictions."

Still sound pretty convoluted.

[Desert Dog]

[quote="robnoxious1"]"though they’ll still be able to enforce federal laws and restrictions."

Still sound pretty convoluted.[/quote]
Not really. You can shoot whatever you like now on fed land (they can't enforce California gun laws), wheel what you want (can't write tickets for anything vehicle related), and hunt without being harassed (California game laws). All they can enforce is fire prevention, logging, federal drug laws, forest closures, and the like.

[garbageman]

Fuking government bullshit I cannot think of anytime I have ever been out in the woods and needed anyone other than for a handjob. they are worthless.