Five cited for violating scenic river regulations on the Comite

Incident occurred on Aug. 22 in East Baton Rouge Parish, LDWF says

Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited five men on Saturday for riding all-terrain vehicles in the Comite River.

According to a press release, agents cited Joe Baggett, 36, Dylan Boyd, 21, Kevin Rothman, 35, Micah Boyd, 46, and Dustin Boyd, 25, all of Denham Springs, for riding in the Comite River and failing to comply with scenic river regulations just south of Zachary.

Agents have received several complaints over the summer of people riding vehicles in the river, and have increased their patrol efforts in the area.  Agents allegedly found Baggett in a Suzuki Samauri, and the four other men in another all-terrain vehicle riding down the Comite River around 12:45 p.m, the release states.

Scenic river regulations prohibit the use of a motor vehicle or other wheeled or tracked vehicle on a designated system stream, except for permitted uses and direct crossings by immediately adjacent landowners, lessees, and persons who have written permission from the landowner for non-commercial activities that do not significantly degrade the ecological integrity of the stream.

Violators of the scenic river rules face a $250 to $500 fine and up to six months of jail time, according to the release.