Complaints spur ATV law review

Chelsea Craddock

Changes may be in store for the village's all-terrain vehicle law.

After receiving numerous complaints about reckless ATV use along Boyd and Alexandria streets, a small committee was formed by the village board Monday to review the law and decide what changes, if any, should be made. On the committee are village Trustee Linda S. Smith-Spencer and Donald Hamilton, president of the Black River Valley ATV Club.

Village President G. Wayne McIlroy said some aspects of the law, such as allowing an ATV to pass a residence four times in an hour, need to be looked at.

"A few years ago we said we would keep the streets open, but if we're going to have complaints like this, then we're going to have to close the village down," Mr. McIlroy said.

Mr. Hamilton, whose ATV club has more than 200 members, urged the board not to close off all village roads to ATVs because of a few troublemakers.

"When someone is driving recklessly, they don't close down the whole road, they give them a ticket," he said, comparing the situation to regular driving infractions.

Alexandria Street resident Emily M. Blaschke thanked the board for the installation of a "no trespassing" sign at the former Braman Manufacturing Co. property that has deterred some riders. She said, however, she feels the situation is too much for the understaffed village police department.

"Our police force is not manned enough," she said. "But they do what they can do and they do a good job with what they've got."

To assist police, Joseph Z. Onyon, Region 6 director of the state Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Association, provided the department with a map of ATV trails in and around the village. According to Mr. Onyon, there are no trails near the area of Alexandria Street.

"Whatever help you need, just tell us, and we're going to help take care of the situation," he said.

Mr. McIlroy said the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department ATV Patrol was dispatched to the neighborhood over the weekend to keep an eye on activity.

The committee to review the village ATV law will meet before the board's Nov. 15 meeting and present village attorney Mark G. Gebo with its suggestions.

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Source: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20101020/NEWS03/310209986

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