DPS Encounter On Willow City Loop

[TXJIM]

One of the members of my lease just called to tell me about an encounter he just had with a DPS. Our lease has a couple of miles of frontage on Willow City Loop, a road that is marked as a private road on both ends. Anyway, he was towing a trailer with his Ranger moving a feeder from one of the lease back to camp. The trooper pulled him over and told him the following:

His Ranger had to be registered to operate on the road.

He had to have a helmet on.

He had to display a slow moving vehicle sign or a yellow flag.

The loop was not a private road but a public thoroughfare.

So any LEO wish to chime in here? We all run up and down the loop on 4 wheelers and Rangers and have never had a problem before today.

[cashcropper]

I don't know for sure but would think if it was county maintained and had a CR number or name it would be susceptible to being patrolled.

[marshhunter]

what are the regulations for a private rd? might need to find that out, i looked it up in bing, and it didnt say anything about being private. who maintains this road?

[TXJIM]

"The private two-lane Ranch Road winds for 13 miles through some of the oldest and most unique geology in central Texas... "

http://www.fredericksburgtexas-online.com/WillowCityLoop

Not definitive but it is marked private and refereed to as private at least on this local site:

The road itself is part of the ranches it winds through, most are separated by cattle guards and most do not fence their cattle off the roadway itself. Would cows be allowed to free roam on a county road?

[tvc184]

I am not sure about what roads are public or private.

On operation on public property, an ATV or recreational off road vehicle requires the operator to have a safety certificate (kind of like hunter's safety), a helmet, an eye protection.

There are other restrictions if the public property is a public road including having an orange flag on top of an 8 foot pole.

[TXJIM]

I am not sure about what roads are public or private.

On operation on public property, an ATV or recreational off road vehicle requires the operator to have a safety certificate (kind of like hunter's safety), a helmet, an eye protection.

There are other restrictions if the public property is a public road including having an orange flag on top of an 8 foot pole.

Yeah, that is what the trooper told him he needed, I may have lost some of it in translation while writing up the OP. What is in dispute is the status of the road as public or private.

[Cropduster]

The road seems to be private. If that is true the Dps is out of line.

[AtTheWall]

"The private two-lane Ranch Road winds for 13 miles through some of the oldest and most unique geology in central Texas... "

http://www.fredericksburgtexas-online.com/WillowCityLoop

Not definitive but it is marked private and refereed to as private at least on this local site:

The road itself is part of the ranches it winds through, most are separated by cattle guards and most do not fence their cattle off the roadway itself. Would cows be allowed to free roam on a county road?

Yes - Livestock are allowed to free range on a county road - a county road designated LOOSE LIVESTOCK. It's pretty common here in Hill Country & West Texas areas.

Willow City Loop is a serious wildflower destination spot right now and DPS will patrol it pretty regularly up into the beginning of summer, post wildflower bloom. A big tourist "cruising" spot, well known for folks that drive from everywhere to take in the wildflowers. Considering it's German country - he got off easy

It's County maintained and public access is preferred this time of the year because, the wildflowers bring revenue into the County. Biker groups, families, auto clubs etc.....it gets a lot of attention from now until June.

[Seacoal]

I was gonna say an unpaved county road runs through our ranch and the cows roam it all the time

[TXJIM]

Well, I just spoke to the county 911 addressing agent and she told me the loop is in fact county maintained right of way. She was shocked that a trooper was actually on the loop and stopped him though. Her comments was, "I guess we are not that rural any more"

[TXJIM]

Yes - Livestock are allowed to free range on a county road - a county road designated LOOSE LIVESTOCK. It's pretty common here in Hill Country & West Texas areas.

Willow City Loop is a serious wildflower destination spot right now and DPS will patrol it pretty regularly up into the beginning of summer, post wildflower bloom. A big tourist "cruising" spot, well known for folks that drive from everywhere to take in the wildflowers. Considering it's German country - he got off easy

It's County maintained and public access is preferred this time of the year because, the wildflowers bring revenue into the County. Biker groups, families, auto clubs etc.....it gets a lot of attention from now until June.

I have been out there for several years so I am well aware of the visitors this time of year. The county clerk was very surprised at the verbiage on the signs that clearly state that the road is private.

[AtTheWall]

I have been out there for several years so I am well aware of the visitors this time of year. The county clerk was very surprised at the verbiage on the signs that clearly state that the road is private.

I bet a local resident, of Germanic decent, erected the sign unofficially? Probably tired of the tourists that cruise it this time of the year.

[tvc184]

I bet a local resident, of Germanic decent, erected the sign unofficially? Probably tired of the tourists that cruise it this time of the year.

Those darn ausländers.

[TXJIM]

I bet a local resident, of Germanic decent, erected the sign unofficially? Probably tired of the tourists that cruise it this time of the year.

She told me the county put the sign up because of complaints about tourist stopping and wondering off into people's private property. She said the wording was not accurate though....

[Codie]

"The private two-lane Ranch Road winds for 13 miles through some of the oldest and most unique geology in central Texas... "

http://www.fredericksburgtexas-online.com/WillowCityLoop

Not definitive but it is marked private and refereed to as private at least on this local site:

The road itself is part of the ranches it winds through, most are separated by cattle guards and most do not fence their cattle off the roadway itself. Would cows be allowed to free roam on a county road?

Absolutely - As for the rest of it I could not help you though -