Forest Service can now fine people for fires and off-road vehicles without a warning

The US Forest Service just changed its rules for criminal prohibitions. It can now fine people for starting fires or driving off-road vehicles without first issuing a specific order for that area.

Before this change, the Forest Service had to issue a specific order for an area, like a burn ban, before it could fine someone for violating it. This meant enforcement was often reactive and slow. Now, the agency can act immediately, making it easier to enforce rules about fires and vehicle use across all national forests.