In Minnesota's Clay County, Sgt. Darin Bredman said he has not had any mudding complaints so far this year. If a road or field is destroyed, a mudder could also face misdemeanor criminal destruction of property charges, he said.
While the punishment for anyone cited would be up to the judge, Bredman said, a reckless driving conviction can have a serious impact on insurance rates. Cass County Chief Deputy Rick Majerus said it is common in this area for the sheriff's office to receive complaints of mudding throughout the county.
To date, the sheriff's office has written 15 to 20 complaints for mudding, he said. Majerus said while deputies investigate complaints from residents or township officers, issuing a ticket for mudding can be difficult unless deputies catch the suspects in the act or find them stuck in the mud. If someone goes down a road and gets stuck by accident that is not against the law.
Majerus said tracks in the ditch and road are usually indications someone was mudding along with the type of vehicle used, usually a high-sitting truck or one with certain types of tires that can barrel through rough terrain. Because townships are a small unit of government, without unlimited funds to fix the roads they are responsible for, township officers are often eager to find suspects to help pay for damage, Majerus said. Munson said he has no tolerance in the Roamers club for destroying private property.
The club, which includes about 26 families, is a nonprofit that hosts numerous events and mud races across the region to raise funds for charity. If he saw signs that a club member was involved in damaging public roads or private land, "I would yank that sticker right off the truck," he said.
If you're going to be a hellion, you're not going to be a part of this club," he said. Jesse Vizenor and her husband, Shane, are members of the River Wranglers and often open their own land to off-roaders. Like Munson, Vizenor said illegal mudders can be frustrating for group members, who seek their off-road thrills legally.
We just want to be in the element next to it, not destroying it. We have people that come from all over to use the land. Both groups venture to public off-road courses in Minnesota, including the large off-road course on the Iron Range in Gilbert and one in Appleton, about three hours directly west of Minneapolis. Roamers was actually founded in by members looking to shake off the image illegal mudding creates, Munson said.
Why is it so popular, and is mudding safe? Off-roading is one of the most popular sport-like activities. Along with riding on rocky or sandy terrain, some of these vehicles boast enough power to plow through muddy areas, some quite deep.
The thrill of smashing through mud and steering the vehicle to safer land brings some adventurists immense fun. What makes this sport even more thrilling is doing it with vehicles that come with special off-roading capabilities.
Oftentimes, drivers worry about getting their vehicles stuck in the mud and having to pay to get them out of the situation. If you are mudding and you have someone with you watching you blast through the mud, they could be in danger if something goes wrong. Sometimes the mechanics can malfunction, causing you to lose control of the off-roading vehicle. Of course, injuries are one thing; death is quite another.
According to the Law Offices of Robert Gregg , three people were killed in a mudding accident in Georgia. Two brothers and an year-old died when the throttle of the vehicle got stuck while driving through mud. They lost control and killed the three onlookers.
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