Hiking Friends Harrassed by Ranger at Fort Bowie

Deborah · Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 297 Location: Tucson

A few of my hiking friends went over to Fort Bowie on the 24 of April.
One friend has a couple of plastic toy lizards on the dash of her truck.
As they arrived back to her truck they were met by one of the Fort Bowie Rangers who told her something was wrong with her truck Registration. Obviously the tags on her truck are current! He started to claim that she was a lizard collector and wanted to see a license for Lizard collecting. She was with 5 other people at the time who had all hiked over to the Fort and back.
The Ranger proceded to check her hiking poles and wanted to search the truck. When she refused he threatened to arrest her until they could get a search warrant. She finally decided to let them since she knew she had nothing to hide and they finally let the group go.
My friends did write a letter to the Supertendent of the Park Service, but little will it do.
I don't think I will ever hike over at Fort Bowie again. A few years ago, I did one of the peaks over there and the Ranger personally called me on my cell phone asking how may were coming and what time we were starting the hike.
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Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. - Rachel Carson

azbackpackr · Posted: 5/5/2009, 10:02 am Post subject:

That is just ridiculous. This info should be spread around. Deborah, you really should post this on HAZ as well.

Shawn · Posted: 5/5/2009, 10:22 pm Post subject:

Sometimes a little authority is more than a guy can handle . . . .
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

sbkelley · Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 284 Location: Tempe, AZ

Sounds like the ranger must not have a lot to do...seems like an incredibly unnecessary set of actions.
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Mountains complement desert as desert complements city, as wilderness complements and completes civilization. - Ed Abbey

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

Deborah · Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 297 Location: Tucson

windymesa · Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Posts: 76 Location: Peoria, Arizona

According to the non-NPS rangers I know, he can not arrest you while waiting for a warrant. However, he could search your vehicle without a warrant if there was probable cause (he wouldn't nbeed to arrest you).. such as marajuana smoke or roach clips, or a dead body, etc. If he would have called in for a warrant, he would have been laughed at based on plastic lizards on the dash. NPS rangers are a different breed.. in general... but this guy sounds way too anal Crazy

. Are you sure you weren't in Mexico?... with the federalies fishing for a $25 tip. Wouldn't hurt to write the Super, with a CC to your congressman. Based on your info, this is poopie. What you need to do is become a poopie.. because you can't poopie a poopie. Razz

azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

I second what windymesa said. I had problems with the TSA a few years ago. It seems Deanda and I were on the terrorist watch list. I know I know, it seems crazy. My friends at the Friday night Jihad meeting couldn't figure it out either.(sarcasm)
Anyway, we wrote Sen. McCain. His office wrote to the TSA several times on our behalf and sent us copies of all correspondence. The end result is within a few months we were off the list. Representatives like dealing with stuff like this. It gives them a chance to throw their weight around on behalf of their constituents.
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It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. -- Carl Sagan

pfredricks · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 347 Location: Peoria, AZ

By the way, the supreme court just ruled on the constitutionality and the police powers of searching inside a vehicle after someone has been arrested or otherwised detained. First of all they would need reason to arrest you, otherwise have a reasonable suspicion to obtain a warrant.

http://www.kmeg.com/Global/story.asp?S=10322774

On principle, sure probably could have called his bluff and said to go ahead and get a warrant. I question what the probable cause was and doubt a warrant would have even been issued. BUT, in the interest of getting home in a reasonable time the search would be the easy way to go.
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"I am just going outside and may be some time."- Explorer Oates' last words before crawling out of his tent in -40 C temps. Sacrificed himself so as not to hold back his 1912 South Pole expedition teamates.

CatValet · Posted: 5/10/2009, 2:10 pm Post subject:

"Mexican Hiking Club", that's funny, never heard that one before.

Since I don't think you can enter NPS property while armed, I'll avoid Ft. Bowie for now. I would no longer think of touring the Chiricahuas, Huachucas, or San Rafael Valley unarmed anymore. Wouldn't be safe to sleep. Otherwise, the Mexican Hiking Club can meet the American Hunting Club. I was white tail hunting south of Rucker Lake a few years back and encountered about 12 illegals. Border Patrol got them, so I didn't have to intervene. Only had one hunt tag anyway.....

azbackpackr · Posted: 5/10/2009, 3:30 pm Post subject:

I looked on the Ft. Bowie website, thought they might have an email address on there, so that I could send them this thread! But they don't have one listed. That might make someone wake up and realize that the public is paying attention!