In November 2009, a hiker received a citation for the U.S. Forest Service for parking at a remote trailhead on the Coconino National Forest without a Red Rock Pass. He defended himself in court with a provision of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) that prohibits fees from being charged at undeveloped trail heads and sites. On September 14, 2010, the Federal magistrate agreed and dismissed the case. As a result, the Forest Service is, at least temporarily, not charging fees at undeveloped trailheads and along unpaved roads while they develop a new fee plan.
The Coconino National Forest, which includes the Flagstaff and Sedona areas, has been charging recreation fees in a large area defined as the Red Rock Area since the controversial Fee Demo program. Even though the provisions of FLREA are different from Fee Demo and specifically exclude fees being charged at undeveloped sites, the Forest Service continued charging these fees in the Red Rock Area despite strong opposition. The Sedona City Council is opposed as well as many recreationists.
For more information on the case including the court documents, see
http://westernslopenofee.org/index2.php?display=yes&pageid=33
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