Rangers could gain authority

Orange County park rangers could soon have the power to cite people

violating rules and regulations in local parks.

County supervisors are scheduled to vote today on whether to give

final approval to a proposal that would allow county park rangers to

issue citations for minor violations. Last week, all five supervisors

gave preliminary approval to the plan.

In the Newport-Mesa area, the Upper Newport Bay, Talbert Nature

Preserve and Newport Harbor are under the county’s jurisdiction.

County ordinances go into effect 30 days after they are approved.

The plan would give park rangers authority to write tickets for

civil violations such as trespassing, illegal parking and allowing

dogs to roam without a leash, said Kevin Thomas, county Harbors,

Beaches and Parks director.

Under the proposal, park rangers would not be able to write

tickets for speeding or misdemeanors.

Currently, park rangers have the power to advise park visitors to

obey park rules and to ask people who refuse to comply to leave the

park. Supervisor Jim Silva said park rangers need more power to deal

with problems.

“You now have teeth in an ordinance,” Silva said.

Thomas noted that writing tickets would be a last resort for park

rangers.

“We like to think through an educational, face-to-face

enlightenment, they learn why they shouldn’t let their dogs off their

leash,” Thomas said.

County supervisor Chris Norby considers the plan a compromise

between giving park rangers full law enforcement training and leaving

them with little authority other than words and the ability to call

Orange County sheriff’s deputies when park visitors cause serious

problems.

“They need some kind of power to deal with that rather than just

holding them and calling the sheriff,” Norby said.

Under the proposal, a first offense would result in a $50 penalty,

Thomas said. A second ticket would mean a $150 fine, and the third

offense would cost the violator $500.

The exception, according to a report prepared for county

supervisors, would be $30 fines for vehicle-related offenses.

Newport Beach has two park patrol officers who watch city parks,

recreation superintendent Andrea McGuire said. Those officers have

had the power to write citations since October 2003.

City officials consider the move to give park officers the power

to write tickets as a success, McGuire said. For example, the policy

gives park officers more power to deal with people using park

facilities reserved by others.

McGuire said park officers wrote two or three citations the first

year of the program, and about a dozen in the second year. She said

the most common violation was for illegal parking.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at

[email protected].