Camden wants to put the brakes on ATV riders

Written by Philadelphia Daily News

Friday, May 21, 2010

Jason Nark

It can be impressive to watch a teenager rip down a Camden side street at 60 mph on a dirt bike, popping a wheelie and wearing no helmet.

It's also illegal, dangerous and frustrating for the residents and police officers who see and hear the off-road vehicles all summer long.

"It's just another thing that diminishes the quality of life," Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson said yesterday.

Thomson said his officers are often taunted by those who ride all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes because chasing them is dangerous to the public and usually futile.

"There's only so many places a patrol car can go, and these things can go everywhere. Their acceleration is unbelievable," Thomson said.

"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," he said.

Tomorrow, law-enforcement officials and community leaders plan to meet in North Camden's Pyne Point Park to discuss a crackdown on ATV use on city streets and parks. According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, athletic fields and parks, such as Pyne Point, often are torn up, and the city's youth-sports organizations who use fields suffer the most.

The crackdown will include stricter enforcement and more signage, and officials are asking for more tips from the community. Thomson said his department takes a cat-and-mouse approach to enforcing illegal ATV use.

Officers wait at gas stations where riders refuel, use helicopters to track them to their storage areas, and try to learn from disgruntled neighbors where riders are storing the vehicles. The prosecutor's office said 23 vehicles were confiscated last year and 14 have been taken so far this year.

Anyone with a complaint about illegal ATV use can contact Camden's District Council Collaborative Boards at 856-968-1000 or visit www.camdendccb.org.

Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100521_Camden_wants_to_put_the_brakes_on_ATV_riders.html

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Community Voices

“Once they chased our cow into a deep arroyo where it fell and broke its neck. I don't understand how anyone could think chasing livestock is fun.” As a result of the growing conflicts with off-roaders, the Gonzales family stopped their cattle ranching. It doesn't matter whether it is a plate or decal, what is important is that the identification is visible. The police could have tracked down the illegal riders if we had been able to photograph the IDs on their vehicles. I think that would have made them think twice before breaking the law.”

- Eleanor Gonzales, private property owner in Santé Fe County, NM