Upon arriving at the Bowen Ranch, you pay your toll fee, then proceed south toward the parking lot, you actually cross to private land owned by Rancho Las Flores (without their permission) and then park on Rancho Las Flores land.
This situation results in the fee being paid as a toll to pass through the Bowen Ranch. You are not paying a parking fee. You are paying a toll for crossing.
Vehicle code section 611 "A toll road is a publically owned way or place opened to the use of the public for the purposes of vehicular travel for which use requires the payment of a fee."
Vehicle Code section 23251 "The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall provide for the proper and adequate policing of all toll highways.....and of the rules and regulations of the Department of Transport with respect thereto."
So are private toll roads legal? No. Paul P. from the Department of Transportation, any comments?
The BLM closed Route 2 because it crossed Rancho Las Flores Land. The BLM said they did not have the permission of the owner. However, the BLM compel the public to cross and park on Rancho Las Flores land when accessing through the Bowen Ranch.