Over 5,000 People Attended This Illegal Off-Road Party

Tonto National Forest was filled with people however, it wasn’t hikers or park rangers. More than 5,000 people gathered last weekend northeast of Phoenix for an illegal “party” thrown by off-roaders and campers which was broken up by the U.S. Forest Service.

The reason it was illegal (besides being in the middle of the pandemic) was that the Tonto National Forest requires a permit for gatherings of over 75 people. Local news Fox10 reports that the regulation is for everyone’s safety according to officials.

There were officers patrolling the area Saturday night when they came across the gathering where the partiers has restricted access by taping off sections of the main road and parked vehicles down the road as well. There was a band, a DJ, drag races, all accompanied by alcohol.

The main violations included were DUI, double riding, speeding, reckless vehicle operation, staging camps in illegal areas, blocking roadways, illegal use of fireworks and target shooting – just to name a few. At the end of it all there were seven vehicle accidents, multiple reports of stolen off-highway vehicles, and one person was taken to the hospital with injuries after two quads collided. The exact reasons above are why events like this are illegal. There simply weren’t enough officers in the area to keep order.

It’s reported that people associated with an off-roading Facebook group said it was their party, and that they spent the next day cleaning up.