The court of appeals affirmed a judgment of the district court. The court held that a motorcyclist was constitutionally convicted for violating a federal regulation by riding without a helmet on a federal road in a national recreation area that was under proprietary rather than exclusive or concurrent federal jurisdiction.
James Bohn rode his motorcycle without wearing a helmet on a federal road in a national recreational area that was administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The road originated as a county road, but that county had transferred its interest in the road to the government. A uniformed NPS ranger in a marked car gesturally and verbally ordered Bohn to stop. Bohn acknowledged the order, but did not stop, although the ranger followed in his car and motioned repeatedly for Bohn to pull over.
