If the ATV had a full-size license plate on it, the victim would have been able to report the incident, and the perpetrator would be paying for the victim's major shoulder-reconstruction surgery. In general, folks simply act more considerate when they know someone might have their number.

I agree with Grass that conservationists and off-roaders need to come together for a little give and take. Conservationists "give" that everyone — including those who ride ATVs, dirt bikes and four-wheel drives — should have access to public lands. Off-road vehicles may be appropriate on roads in areas where wildlife, clean water and others visitors' experiences are not compromised by damage, pollution, noise and conflicts associated with the vehicles.

Now it's time for off-roaders to "give" that abuse of public lands and other visitors' experiences is unacceptable. And the agencies should use effective enforcement strategies to stop off-road vehicle damage, conflicts, assaults and trespass. Readers can find such strategies in the enforcement report found at www.wildlandscpr.org.

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Jason Kiely is the communications coordinator for Wildlands CPR.