A group of 25 foreign travelers, driving seven modified SUVs, were fined 1.4 million Icelandic krona after Police in North East and Park Rangers in Vatnajökull National park caught the group off-road driving along the Ring Road west of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. The group had previously engaged in extensive destruction of pristine areas in the Central Highlands where the group had torn up vegetation and ground with mindless driving off-road driving.
Read more: Police has charged ten travelers for criminal off-road driving in S. Iceland since June
Police had Park Rangers were able to identify who was responsible for massive damages caused by off-road driving in the Central Highlands north of Vatnajökull glacier. The extensive destruction, located inside the National Park, was caused by at least four trucks belonging to a group of travelers who were driving seven modified 4x4s.
Police was then able to catch the same group, now engaged in off-road driving on the plains south of Vatnajökull glacier. Some of the group were driving their big SUVs in circles on the plains and sands south of the glacier, leaving deep and extensive tracks in the sand. According to a statement from the Police in North East Iceland the people had caused significant damage on the western coast of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and enormous damage on Grafarlönd plains in the Central Highlands.
The Police has not identified the nationality of the people. Police was able to prove that four out of the seven trucks were used for wanton destruction of nature. But as the group was traveling together the entire group of 25 is responsible for the destruction.
Read more: Desolate beauty of Skeiðarársandur, SE Iceland, marred by off-roading adveturers
When the people were confronted by officers they claimed they didn't know off-road driving was illegal. The people apologized for their actions and offered to repair the damage they caused. This offer was rejected, as Park Rangers believe the extensive damage caused by the people had to be repaired by professionals using proper equipment.
The people were fined 1.4 million ISK (13,000 USD/11,200 EUR) for their behavior.
NOTE: All car rentals hand out information informing people off-road driving is illegal. This is also explained to people when they rent a car. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law and destroying nature. All off-road driving is illegal in Iceland. Tracks left in the wet, clay-like ground will remain visible for years or decades, and must be repaired by hand.
If you get the urge to drive off-road, remember that the tracks left by your brief adventure off-road mar the landscape for years or decades. It takes the vegetation decades to recover in the Highlands.
Read more: Photos: Local 4×4 club does its best to repair damages caused by French off-roaders
A group of 25 foreign travelers, driving seven modified SUVs, were fined 1.4 million Icelandic krona after Police in North East and Park Rangers in Vatnajökull National park caught the group off-road driving along the Ring Road west of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. The group had previously engaged in extensive destruction of pristine areas in the Central Highlands where the group had torn up vegetation and ground with mindless driving off-road driving.
Read more: Police has charged ten travelers for criminal off-road driving in S. Iceland since June
Police had Park Rangers were able to identify who was responsible for massive damages caused by off-road driving in the Central Highlands north of Vatnajökull glacier. The extensive destruction, located inside the National Park, was caused by at least four trucks belonging to a group of travelers who were driving seven modified 4x4s.
Police was then able to catch the same group, now engaged in off-road driving on the plains south of Vatnajökull glacier. Some of the group were driving their big SUVs in circles on the plains and sands south of the glacier, leaving deep and extensive tracks in the sand. According to a statement from the Police in North East Iceland the people had caused significant damage on the western coast of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and enormous damage on Grafarlönd plains in the Central Highlands.
The Police has not identified the nationality of the people. Police was able to prove that four out of the seven trucks were used for wanton destruction of nature. But as the group was traveling together the entire group of 25 is responsible for the destruction.
Read more: Desolate beauty of Skeiðarársandur, SE Iceland, marred by off-roading adveturers
When the people were confronted by officers they claimed they didn't know off-road driving was illegal. The people apologized for their actions and offered to repair the damage they caused. This offer was rejected, as Park Rangers believe the extensive damage caused by the people had to be repaired by professionals using proper equipment.
The people were fined 1.4 million ISK (13,000 USD/11,200 EUR) for their behavior.
NOTE: All car rentals hand out information informing people off-road driving is illegal. This is also explained to people when they rent a car. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law and destroying nature. All off-road driving is illegal in Iceland. Tracks left in the wet, clay-like ground will remain visible for years or decades, and must be repaired by hand.
If you get the urge to drive off-road, remember that the tracks left by your brief adventure off-road mar the landscape for years or decades. It takes the vegetation decades to recover in the Highlands.
Read more: Photos: Local 4×4 club does its best to repair damages caused by French off-roaders
