Law Enforcement Voices

Law enforcement officers across America are expressing concern over the growing problem of reckless ORV riding and are looking for common-sense solutions like visible identification and stronger penalties for illegal riding. Read what they’re saying:

“Sooner or later, you can only warn people so much. Then you have to have some enforcement and make it a little painful for people to come up here (to ride illegally)." -- Sergent Richard Wood, of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department Tehachapi substation "No more warnings for illegal off-roaders", The Bakersfield Californian (1/24/09)

"This is a problem the sheriff's office, myself and the juvenile prosecutor has been dealing with for years, and it's not something we've disregarded. It's more of a matter of time to catch them, number one, and number two, having the manpower to do that." -- Bob Skelton, Coshocton City Law Director, " Joyriding in the red sea targeted by area lawmen", Coshocton Tribune (4/19/10)

"It's just another thing that diminishes the quality of life. There's only so many places a patrol car can go, and these things (ATVs) can go everywhere. Their acceleration is unbelievable. They'll drive in the middle of crowded streets, take corners too fast and blast through intersections. It's a no-win situation for us to chase them." -- Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson, "Camden wants to put the breaks on ATV riders", Philadelphia Daily News (5/21/10)

"Most (riders) wear full-faced helmets and cannot be identified. There are usually no tags or identifying features on the cycles," Moran said. -- Police Chief Patrick Moran, "Galloway Township man's death in dirt bike accident puts spotlight on struggle to prevent illegal off-roading", Press of Atlantic City (3/27/11)

"We [police] don't pursue these vehicles because they go from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in three seconds, and we don't want to make a bad situation worse.." -- Police Chief John Thomson, "Camden Police ask for tips in ATV crackdown", Philadelphia Inquirer (6/30/10)

“Their concern is the amount of illegal riding that’s out of control...They’re tearing up trails and damaging plant life. They have no regard for hikers." -- James X. DiCarlo, North Haven Police Chief, "Police to increase patrols for ATVs at Peter's Rock", New Haven Register (10/10/09)

"Chasing ATVs with conventional police vehicles or even police ATVs, as suggested, is simply a tragedy waiting to occur. While I understand the frustration of my officers and communities they serve, there is absolutely no life worth risking to chase an ATV." -- Charles H. Ramsey, Philadelphia Police Commissioner, "Letters: Chasing rouge ATVs is not a safe solution", Philadelphia Inquirer (10/20/09)

“When we see illegal ATV use like this, we want to both help users understand the environmental damage caused by their actions and correct the behavior. Then we turn to restoring function on the damaged land. In this case, the perpetrators’ actions were so egregious they were required to pay substantial fines, providing the agency with the means to begin restoration work.” -- Steve Bryant, Law Enforcement Officer for the Palouse Ranger District, "ATVs tear up meadow, now those responsible are paying for the cleanup", KLEW-TV (5/2/10)

"It's not just the noise. It's the wanton disregard for riding those on private property. It's the reckless manner in which they're riding." -- Deputy Police Chief Mike Booker, "ATV attack leads aldermen to push stricter ATV laws", WREX-TV (10/19/09)

"I enjoy hunting an am also an OSP game officer... I have heard all the excuses and wish the penalties were more severe for violators" -- Craig Johnson, "Speaking Up", Eastman's Hunting Journal (Feb.-Mar. '10)

“The last three to four years it’s gotten out of hand. It got out of control last year,” -- Sergeant Dan Saunders, "Cops targeting bad behavior at Greenhorn Creek gathering", The Union (1/17/09)

"It's extremely difficult to enforce for a couple of reasons. One, is that we don't really have the vehicles to get into the remote places. The other thing is that at the time most of the criminal activity is going on out there we're busy with other calls." -- Pueblo Police Chief Jim Billings, "Honor Farm hard to police", The Pueblo Chieftain (2/7/09)

"They're just a constant nuisance. They're a drain on resources because we have to dispatch a car. Usually they take off." -- Lt. Bernie Somers, supervisor in Westville, "Police clamp down on ATVs, dirt bikes; vehicles may be seized", New Haven Register (8/2/08)

"Some, but not all, ATV drivers demonstrate their lack of respect for someone else's property and our roads and bridges personnel often find themselves repairing damaged and eroding rights of way caused by inconsiderate ATV operators." -- Capt. Steve Morris, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, "Bumpy Ride is ahead for bill", The Augusta Chronicle (2/9/09)

"Congress needs to put their foot down and serve notice that when it comes to off-road vehicles, we're watching (reckless riders). -- Retired USFS Ranger Jack Gregory, "Ex-Forest Service cop fights off-road abuse", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (5/27/08)

"We've got eight officers -- that's almost a million acres we're covering...There's no way they can be everywhere at once." -- Stewart Delugach, Patrol Captain of the sprawling Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, "Unhappy Trails: Forests Beset by Rebel ATV Riders", The Washington Post (6/17/08)

"It is difficult to apprehend them without the same type of (vehicle)...Unless someone is able to identify who it is on the vehicle, I can't arrest them...I have got to be able to identify the person." -- Amboy Police Sgt. Jeff Blake, "ATV riders given final warning in Amboy", Sauk Valley News-Gazette (5/20/08)

"It seemed to me that he was intentionally driving the vehicle in this fashion as a taunt as he knew I was unable to pursue him in the rough terrain." -- Officer Dean Flyte, "Fleeing ATV rider taunts officer, arrested after striking rock", The Morning Call (8/23/10)

"We continue to encounter problems with unlawful OHV use in Montana and really it's a problem in the entire West." -- Jim Kropp, law enforcement chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, "Stiff fines eyed for off-roading on closed lands", Associated Press, (3/19/09)

"There are the people who seem to want to use the ATVs and do it right and then there is the other percentage, maybe 30 to 40 percent, who don't care about rules or regulations and seem to think they have a right to do what they want. They ride on routes they are not supposed to be on or routes with seasonal restrictions or they just go across country, which has not been legal since about 2000." -- Ron Wiseman, Judith District Ranger, "ATVs Scarring the Forest", Great Falls Tribune (10/2/08)

"With such great land masses and so few enforcement officers, it does not take a large group of individuals disobeying federal land and local laws to cause a problem. We have seen pristine areas disturbed by (off-highway vehicle) riders for the thrill of an exciting ride. It's a growing burden with a growing number of reckless drivers." -- Frank Adams, Executive Director of Nevada Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association, Testifying before United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (6/5/08)

"There was an outcry for us to do something...Farmers were having problems with them tearing up their crops." -- Jack Blizzard, Cumberland County Trooper, "Port Republic cranks up penalties on illegal ATV riders", Press of Atlantic City (8/13/08)

"The police do receive (off-highway vehicle) complaints on a regular basis throughout the township, and it's a challenge enforcing the relative laws' because the OHVs can get around easily on the terrain but police can not. We are not equipped with an equivalent mode of transportation, making it difficult and dangerous to pursue violators." -- Lt. Patrick Shaffery, Press of Atlantic City (6/24/08)

"We're not at war with ATV riders, but we are at war with illegal ATV riders. There's a difference." -- Kevin DiPatri, Port Norris station commander, Press of Atlantic City (6/16/08)

"There's been a multitude (of incidents). I don't doubt, with the onset of warm weather and everything else, that it's only going to get worse." -- Donald Hess, Police Chief, "Blairsville police target illegal ATV disturbances", Indiana Gazette (3/27/09)

"We are talking about a minority of ATV owners. But that minority is causing such a big problem that it is being brought up month after month at council meetings." -- Mike Conway, Tremont Police Chief, "Rules of the road", Republican & Herald (8/16/08)

"While I want to acknowledge that there are many responsible ATV users who stay on the trails and ride legally, and then volunteer many hours repairing trails, another part of the reality is the illegal motorized use in the forest. The last couple of years, the illegal use has accelerated in inventory, enforcement and closure of illegal trails. I am horrified at the number of illegal trails being created." -- Mesia Nyman, District Ranger of the United States Forest Service, "Forest damage due to ATVs offroading", Emergy County Progress (8/19/08)

"As the population grows, we’re going to see increases in the call volume up there. Looking to the future, it’s an issue that’s not going to go away." -- Scott Koehler, chief of East County Fire and Rescue, "Off-road vehicle stretch emergency crews", The Columbian (10/6/08)

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