Rockford Council Seeks Stricter ATV Regulations

Alice Barr

Several Rockford aldermen are outraged over what they call dangerous behavior among some local all-terrain vehicle drivers. Monday night a city council committee moved closer to tightening punishments for those who misuse their ATVs.

"These are right through people's yards. I mean here's my yard and you can see where they come right through, they have no respect for anybody's property." Rockford 6th Ward Alderman Lenny Jacobson points out tread marks he says ATV riders leave behind when they tear through his yard. But Jacobson says some ATV riders are leaving much more serious damage behind.

"We've had a lot of break-ins on all terrain vehicles, had a bank robbed on an all terrain vehicle, the police can't catch them," says Jacobson.

Plus a local man was recently run over by an ATV, in his own front yard, breaking his leg.

"It's getting to the point where I'm concerned for the safety and well-being of my constituents," says Jacobson.

So Monday night, a city council committee debated ways to impose stricter punishments to keep local ATV riders from breaking existing laws, that outlaw all-terrain vehicles on city streets and private property.

In the end it's the sound of the vehicles that could get riders in trouble. Committee members are recommending rolling ATVs into the city's noise ordinance. That allows Rockford police to impound cars when they're playing music too loudly.

If the full council approves the move, police could start fining ATV riders and impounding their vehicles for making too much noise. Impound fees would range from 150 to 750 dollars.

Aldermen are not stopping there. They're planning a meeting with county leaders to discuss registering ATVs.

"Or put small license plates, so that police can be very active in terms of finding who is it and where they are," says Alderman Frank Beach.

But some local riders say stricter rules aren't necessary, just common sense.

"Well of course you have to be respectable about it," says local ATV rider Ryan Leombruni. "You can't just be an idiot, you can't go and do whatever you want. You gotta respect everyone's property."

We met that rider at a Rockford ATV park on South Main. But he said it's unfair to ask riders to stay only in that park since there's a 20 dollar fee. Alderman Beach says that's reasonable when you're talking about a service that has to be maintained.

Alderman Jacobson also wants Rockford police to get a second ATV. They already have one used to stake out areas where ATVs are commonly misused. But Jacobson says they need a second vehicle so no officer has to go out alone.

The proposed changes are set to hit the full council floor next Monday night.

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Source: http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/64868797.html

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