Who can be a participant in the ATV Posse?

It is not recommended that novice or new riders join the ATV Posse until they have had at least 100 hours of riding experience on an ATV.  The reason for this is simple.  Your own personal safety is most important. 

Inexperienced or injured riders can also be a cause for the search of an area to be incomplete by virtue of their inability to enter or negotiate difficult terrain.

It is highly recommended that ATV Posse participants have completed a Utah State ATV Safety Course or an ASI ATV Safety Course prior to joining the ATV Posse.

Only those riders who are willing to wear DOT approved helmets during a search are invited to participate.

You must be at least 21 years of age and in good enough health to spend 6 hours in searching under difficult climatic conditions (winter or summer).

ATV Posse participants must be willing to supply their own ATV, food, gas, equipment of all types and volunteer their time, all at no cost to the organizers of the search.

At least for the present this posse will be open to residents of the State of Utah.  Other State's residents are welcome to organize their own posse using this as an example if they wish.

What is a search like?

In a typical search volunteers will be asked to meet at a specific location and from there they will be distributed out to cover an area approximately 5 miles by 5 miles (the actual size of the grid will vary with the area).  These searches can be in desert, or mountains.  There is usually very little known about the area by the organizers of the search.  Thus, there are no known "easy" areas or "expert" areas.  While people are given the opportunity to select their area of search, the most common and well known areas are often selected first. 

How long will the search last?

The hours of the search will generally range between noon and 6:00 PM. (or sunset, if that comes before 6:00 PM). If you can't arrive right at noon it is not a problem, just come when you can get there.  At the conclusion of the search each team and team member will be debriefed. 

These searches are not for the rescue of people who are at a known location or area.  They are generally conducted as an effort to find someone who has been abducted in another area and an extensive search of large areas seems appropriate to locate the individual and/or the perpetrator.

Searches may be conducted on consecutive days in various areas.  It time it may be possible for the ATV Posse to organize and conduct their own searches simultaneously in various areas so that the most area is covered in the least amount of time.

If searches are conducted on weekends it will only be by coincidence.  A search may be called for any day of the week, including Sunday.

Where will the searches be conducted?

Searches will likely be conducted everywhere it is reasonably possible to find the missing person.  However, ATV searches can only be conducted in locations where ATV use is permitted on existing routes and designated open OHV areas.  Other groups of volunteers will be asked to search the urban areas and other areas where ATV use is not permitted.  Our focus will be the expansive miles and millions of acres where ATVs are permitted in both desert and mountain venues.  Private property will not be searched, unless the property owner specifically requests or otherwise grants permission for the search.

LIABILITY?

By joining the list you agree, that if you choose to participate in a search you will assume all liability for your actions and property.  The organizers of the search, the distributors of information about the search, and this web site owners and operators are released from any and all liability and responsibility for your voluntary participation in any search.  This is not an organization, just an alert list that you have volunteered to participate in.

WHO IS INVITED TO SEARCH?

In as much as the best searches are conducted by the people who know the area the best, every effort will be made to notify those ATV riders who are located closest to the area where the search is to be conducted.  Nevertheless, in some cases, all ATV Posse members may be notified in order to produce sufficient results to conduct a search.

Can I receive a standing assignment to search a specific area that I am familiar with?

Yes, you as a team leader, may request a standing asssignment for a specific area.   However when you receive notice of a search you must see that the search of the area is complete 24 hours and report back to the organizing person listed below that you have completed your search. Otherwise the trail or area may be delegated to other participants.   We will have to work out the details on this.  More information will be made available on this later.

Do I get reimbursed for Gas and Expenses?

No.  You are a volunteer in every sense of the word.  Participants are doing this literally out of the kindness of their hearts and at their own expense and responsibility.

Is the ATV Posse a club?

No. The ATV Posse encourages participants to be actively involved with their local ATV clubs and organizations.  The ATV Posse is a e-mailing alert list that may be used to quickly gather volunteers for searching activities.   If possible, participants in the ATV Posse may be given a recognition sticker for their helmet, or ATV.  All we need now is for someone to donate funds for that purpose.

How does the ATV Posse get involved in searches?

The organizers of the ATV Posse alert list will offer the service of notifying the ATV Posse members in situations where the RACHEL ALERT system is invoked by state and local governmental authorities.  The notification list will not be used unless and until the appropriate authorities request the posse be called out for a search.

Where can I learn more?

The ATV University in the Utah ATV Trails web site (www.utahatvtrails.com) has a special page specifically for ATV Searches.  Please click here for a link to that page.  If you have additional questions that are not answered on this page or on that page, please write to the person listed below.

What if I don't have enough riding experience to be a member of a search party can I still volunteer?

YES!  Volunteers are needed at the base control points for the search.  These volunteers will need to show up early so that they can distribute information to arriving riders and get them checked in.  They will coordinate communications with the search party and the central command center.   The more knowledge these volunteers have about the areas of the search the better the search will be.

Will I be deputized as a member of the ATV Posse?

NO! Unless you are presently an officer of the law, under any of its jurisdictions, you will have no law enforcement authority.  You may not detain anyone who is unwilling to talk with you for any reason.  If you have reason to believe that there are suspicious conditions, contact the police at once.  Do not take matters into your own hands.  Do not risk danger to yourself or to others in your group.  Off duty law officers are certainly welcome to join the ATV Posse.

Can Jeepers be members of the ATV Posse?

There are frequently many areas where Jeepers can patrol as well as any ATV.  Jeepers are welcome to join, but may find the areas assigned more limited.

Can I bring along my friends and family members?

Yes, you can and will be encouraged to bring as many people as possible on the search as long as they qualify as set forth above.  You may also come solo and you will be matched with others who have done the same.  You may also notify others via e-mail of the search... However, please encourage as many people as possible to join the ATV Posse alert list, so that we can keep track of where the resources are available.

What if I change my e-mail address?

Please contact the ATV Posse organizer listed below and supply them with your current e-mail address.  If not, your notice will be returned and you will likely only hear of the search on the evening news.

What do I do when notified of a search?

Please reply to the sender of the search notice if you can participate in a search.  If you will be arriving late that is okay, just let the team know when they can reasonably expect you.  If you can not participate, that is okay. No reply is necessary.  We'll catch you next time.  If you hear of a Rachel Alert via the news media, prepare your machines and wait for the e-mail to come.

How do I join the ATV Posse?

Please send an email to rbirk@utahatvtrails.com.  Please include "ATV POSSE" in the subject of the e-mail.

Please copy the following text into the body of the e-mail, then complete your information.

Would you like to be a search base point volunteer?

Can you also participate in a Snowmobile Search party?

Jeeper?

If you are not presently receiving the monthly newsletter and update from the Utah ATV Trails web site, would you like to?

The information contributed will remain confidential and will only be used for notifying ATV riders of potential search opportunities.