Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Looking for an update on Law Enforcement at the Big Piney. Our group has camped at Long Pool for over 20 years each Easter, but skipped last year due to the pressure from Law Enforcement. We went to the Buffalo last year. Yes we like to have a few beers. Our last visit to Long Pool, Law Enforcement was sneeking around at night checking camps. Any information or comments will be appreciated.

Big brother Law Enforcement is always around in the spring and summer months on the piney and forrest areas of our fine state just waiting for some one to screw up and take advantage of the fines they can collect from our good people. best bet is get out early and enjoy with out all the BS. Tim muse

Not sure how it is in the great state of Arkansas, but our local newspaper just put out a article on our state's sales tax income.

Seems like the sales tax income (which is a big part of the city, county etc income) really went down. State offices are switching to increasing user fees to the max. IE Driver's licenses fees mostly go to non driving projects, speeding tickets increase just any thing to increase the take.

So maybe those same forces are at work with the Rangers: IE write extra tickets where they might have overlooked things last year.

Bottom line: be extra careful out there to obey the rules.

My two cents that wasn't asked for - Longpool was long overdue for some LE presence. Used to be a family friendly place. From what I have heard in the past few years, that has changed.

Law Enforcement is one thing, but sneaking around like ninjas is another.Tim muse

We camped at Longpool last Feb.on one of the coldest weekends.
It was me and my dog and John and his two dogs.
The Law showed-up and proceeded to question us.
While one talked the other slowly walked away and started looking closely
around our camp. To their surprise there was no sign of a party taking place.
I surprised him when I turned around and told him if he needs a better look
inside the tent to go ahead.He said that would not be needed.
I guess they were just trying to get the message across...we're watching...

That in my opinion is a little ridiculous when they could drive by and give the same impression yes we need LE but not oppression

I just wanted to say that I thought the title of this thread said: Law Enforcement Big Party.

See..what you should've said was...in a creepy, yet somewhat frightened whiney voice was " Oh noooo, dooon't look in the teeeent, there's nooothing to see there."!?!
LE's have a great sense of humor about stuff like that. They migh've even let you borrow their pistol and waive it around old west style.

I mean after all, you do pay their salaries. Sometimes it helps to remind them of that.

Joe

Yeah.....NIGHT VISION!!!! Note to LE: Check glass before the paddlers get on the water and not half way down the stream, after word has traveled upstream and they start dumping!!

I don't feel safe at any public campsites anymore for this reason, and avoid them pretty much indefinitely.

I'll have to agree with Ranger Linda on her 2 cents worth. A few years ago my family camped at Longpool one weekend when the river was up & the campground was for all reasons "overfull". It was not a family atmosphere at all. Open dope smoking and drunkeness went on all night long. Not that I'm a prude, most people that have spent time with me will tell you that, but between the diaper tossing rednecks and the long haired maget infested hippies, some LE was necessary.

This past spring, camping there was much more pleasant & the forrest service personnel were present & even took time to visit with me & ask about my day while I was sipping a beer one evening at my campsite.

Wes

Wasn't that long ago on a certain message board where one read of complaints of stolen gear from trucks, key marks on a auto, loud and obnoxious till the wee hours, cruising with music blaring over and over, language that would not be a kid atmosphere and.........

Gotta be a line somewhere between enforcing the law, guarding against vandalism and keeping order versus harassment of groups or individuals.

Sort of like when the FS threw up a roadblock/check on Richland one weekend. Or sitting on the shuttle road and ticketing people for driving over the center of an unmarked road.

Have been in the campground many times at night and all was peaceful even with a full house plus. Seems like the problems really grew after the FS expanded the campground.

Shark Attack wrote:I'll have to agree with Ranger Linda on her 2 cents worth.

Shhhhhhh! Don't go tellin' others that I'm one of "those" people... :shock:

Guess there's no privacy these days. LOL.