A valley of mixed woods, Condor National Forest, Santa Barbara County.

RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”  If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters.  You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules.  (The besieged entity’s very credibility and reputation is at stake, because if activists catch it lying or not living up to its commitments, they can continue to chip away at the damage.)

–Saul Alinsky, Rules For Radicals (1971)

Does the concession to manage campgrounds granted to Parks Management Company by the US Forest Service stipulate that enforcement of campsite fee payment is subject to the discretion of the company?

It appears the company is not living up to its contractual commitment.

Is the company at liberty to pick and choose who pays and who does not?

Is selective enforcement legal?

Is this official Parks Management policy?

Is the US Forest Service officially aware of Parks Management’s selective enforcement?

We noticed long ago Parks Management had not bothered servicing campgrounds back of Figueroa Mountain during midweek. And Dan McCaslin in Noozhawk noted this a year ago.

We like a little free camping to be enjoyed by savvy locals and the fortunate few lucky others who show up at the right time. We also enjoy stopping in to BBQ at the campsites during hours we know Parks Management will not be there.

But shouldn’t we look at it from all angles?

Would you be frustrated if you happened to speak to a neighboring camper and find they didn’t have to pay, while you doled out nearly fifty bucks?

There are no exceptions to the fee stated on the bulletin board at campground entrances. It doesn’t say midweek is free or payment is only required if reserved online.

If reserved online in advance the base cost midweek starts at $38. Depending on how you decide to pay, you might just camp for free on the very same night other people are paying $48 for a two vehicle one night stay.

If the US Forest Service rule is that there are fees at these campgrounds, and if Parks Management signed onto the service contract as managers, then isn’t the company obligated to follow the rules?

Is not Parks Management responsible for enforcing fee payment just as much as the camping public is expected to be responsible for paying the fees?

If Parks Management is allowed to decide when or if following the rules is necessary, then are recreationists also allowed to decide for themselves at will when and wherever following rules is necessary in the forest?

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