A Colorado man serves as an example of why it's so important to follow the rules while visiting national parks.
A news article by KMVT told the story of Joseph Aita and his family who went off-trail while visiting Yellowstone National Park. After pleading guilty to destroying a mineral resource near Canary Spring, he was sentenced to seven days in jail, five years of probation with a ban from the park for those five years, and a fine of $3,000.
Aita told the outlet that there was no clear signage saying to stay off the land in the area where they parked. No one said anything directly to them; instead, their actions were reported to park rangers.
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"That was our mistake, and we acknowledge that," Aita said.
The judge told him that besides signage, if there's ever any question, it's better to be safe than sorry.
While Aita and his family seemed to have made an honest mistake, many people blatantly disregard signs in national parks that clearly state the rules and regulations.
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Protected thermal areas are particularly unpredictable and dangerous for tourists, with Canary Spring running up to 160 degrees. And yet, people think they can defy nature, literally testing the waters and endangering their lives. You would think after a hydrothermal explosion in July, Yellowstone tourists would be more cautious, but stories of rogue tourists continue to pop up.
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