The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station has a specialized enforcement team which is unique in the law enforcement community. Created in 2001 in response to hundreds of complaints annually of illegal off-highway vehicle activity, the Off Road Enforcement Team is made up of three sergeants and eight deputies who have extensive off road riding experience and have undergone a rigorous 80-hour training program approved by the state of California. The team utilizes ten dual-purpose motorcycles which are street legal but also quick and agile off road.

Utilizing Grant funding from the California State Parks and Recreation, County of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation and the City of Santa Clarita, the off road enforcement team has obtained specialized equipment and operated for more than twelve years without impacting the general law enforcement budget for Santa Clarita.

Since its inception, the off road enforcement team has conducted hundreds of operations in and around the Santa Clarita Valley, combating illegal drinking along the City’s bike paths, protecting environmentally sensitive areas like the Santa Clara River and City of Santa Clarita Open Space areas, and enforcing Off Road Vehicle laws in the Stations vast patrol area. The team has been working to address quality of life issues, impact illegal OHV activity by educating the public on responsible off road recreation and helping to restore scared lands.

In addition to routine off road patrols, the team is often utilized to aid in searches for suspects or victims in the rugged off-road areas, paseos, canyons and river beds. Additionally, they are first responders any time there is an escape from Pitchess Detention Center and are used for evacuations during brush fires due to the quick and agile nature of the dual purpose motorcycles.

Anyone with OHV related complaints or questions on legal riding opportunities in the Santa Clarita area are urged to contact Sergeant Ron Olfert at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.