It's time someone in authority acted to prevent off-road vehicles from creating eyesores and erosion on public land ("Huntsman rips into off-trail ORV use," Tribune, Oct. 2). As the governor said, education and increased enforcement are vital. We should require ORVs to have large license plates so offenders can be easily identified, and we need ORV-abuse hot lines like those for poaching.

Michael Swenson, director of the Utah Shared Access Alliance (an off-road group) believes off-roaders should obey the law in most cases but that there are travel plans the recreation community just "cannot support." Is he saying it's OK to ignore ORV regulations you don't like? In our desert climate, the damage done will be visible for decades.

Swenson said the "perception" of ORV abuse depends on your point of view. I live in the Uintah Basin and have disturbing photos of this "perceived" abuse on Bureau of Land Management land - right next to Dinosaur National Monument.

Swenson said the word "abomination" is harsh, but it perfectly describes damage done by ORV users who leave all but indelible scars upon God's handiwork. No recreationist has the right to abuse public land.

Brenda Durant

Vernal