Police Crack Down on Abuse of Hillsides

Standing in the foothills of the picturesque Santa Susana Mountains north of Chatsworth on Thursday morning, Sgt. Bill Bowen had a stern message for the folks who sneak into the hills to illegally race their motorcycles or dump their trash.

“We’re going to be pretty aggressive,” he warned. “Sooner or later, we will get you.”

Organized by City Councilman Hal Bernson and representatives of the police and fire departments, the occasion was a firm reminder that the hills surrounding the San Fernando Valley are off-limits to motorcycles and other off-road vehicles.

“From now until the beginning of October, officers will be deployed from the early morning until late in the evening,” said Capt. Alan Kerstein, commanding officer of the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division.

The message to motorcyclists: “Stay out,” Kerstein said. “There are plenty of places to safely ride. This is not one of them.”

Violators may be fined as much as $200, he noted.

Led by Bowen, the LAPD’s six-member Off-Road Detail will patrol the trails via motorcycles, keeping a watchful eye not only for bikers but for furtive trash dumpers as well.

“If you’re illegally dumping up here and we catch you,” Bowen said, “we’re going to impound your car and we’re going to arrest you.”

Chatsworth resident Doug Muir, who frequently takes walks through the scenic area, is dismayed at the damage done by off-road riders and nighttime partyers. “They’re tearing up the hillsides,” he said.

Police hope to reduce the noise and trash for the benefit of nearby homeowners but Kerstein warned that an even bigger threat arises during the Valley’s hot, dry summers--fire.

“The fire threat is the most serious. You can get a spark from a motorcycle that can set this off,” he said, indicating the brush just yards from many homes.

“That fire won’t stop until it gets to Devonshire.”