ATV committee creates buffer zones, limits hours

Sarah Wilson

PLYMOUTH — The ATV committee has drafted an ordinance that regulates buffer zones and hours of operations for all terrain vehicle users within town.

The committee has followed existing state statutes, as well as included additional regulations in their ordinance to help the police department better enforce old issues with illegal ATV operation.

Chief of Police Karen Krasicky told the committee that the ordinance “looks good” in terms of enforceability.

The ordinance requires a 10-foot buffer zone from any adjoining property line, to address issues of noise, erosion and harassment, committee members said.

However, the issue of boundary zones was a point of contention among the committee, Walter Lassy, chairman of the ATV committee, said.

One resident and ATV enthusiast, Andrew Ashe, told the committee that a 10-foot buffer zone meant that he couldn’t start up his ATVs to transport them from his back yard to the shed.

“I will have to push them. I shouldn’t be stifled because my property is smaller than everybody else,” Ashe said, adding that his property is also contained by walls and bushes and that his sons ride responsibly.

The ordinance limits hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The ordinance covers “recreational uses” only, excluding recreational vehicles when being used for agriculture, hunting, lawn or property maintenance.

The committee decided to exclude noise regulations in the ordinance because of the complexity of the issue, and because police department currently doesn’t have the equipment or training to enforce noise regulations.

The committee also plans to exclude recreational vehicle use at sanctioned events, such as the Terryville Fair, from the ordinance.

Krasicky suggested the committee define “recreation vehicle” further, to include or exclude, dirt bikes and minibikes. The definition specifically includes snowmobiles and ATVs.

The committee adopted fines for violations of operating hours or boundary zones, that are $25 to $75 per violation.

“I think it [the ordinance] gives everybody an idea of what we want to do,” Lassy said. “I look forward to wrapping it up, and presenting it to the Town Council.”

A public hearing will be held after the ordinance is presented to the Town Council, and then the Town Council will vote on the ordinance.

Source: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2009/01/21/news/doc4977f1545e283168525621.txt

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