Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006 12:00 am
DENVER (AP) - Skiers and snowboarders who ignore the signs and duck the ropes to ride in closed areas of ski resorts could face a $1,000 fine under a proposal being considered by Colorado lawmakers.
The nation's top skiing state hasn't hiked its fines in more than 25 years and county sheriffs say they're concerned that some snowriders aren't deterred by the $300 ticket they can get for breaking the current law.
The change unanimously passed the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, its first hurdle at the state Capitol.
"I believe it's just a blatant disregard. We've done so much education on this that I believe people know that it is a crime," said Summit County Sheriff John Minor, who expects to cite about 80 skiers for violations this year.
The fines only apply to skiers and snowboarders who cross into sections of ski areas that are marked as closed. It doesn't cover those who head into backcountry public lands to ski and snowboard.
Summit County - home of Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain ski areas - has had seven search and rescue operations for missing snowriders this year. One snowboarder spent two nights in the Jones Gulch area at Keystone and the sheriff's office is trying to recoup the costs of that search, including $1,000 for a medical helicopter transport.
Minor said he's concerned about how busy his county's volunteer search and rescue team has been, helping ski patrollers by heading into areas covered by deep snow and dotted with sinkholes and downed trees. He said it affects taxpayers too because the sheriff's office pays for the workman's compensation insurance for the volunteers.