Police to crack down on illegal ATVs

Raymond L. Smith

NILES - ATV, snowmobiles and four-wheelers will face increased fines and tougher law enforcement this summer as area communities try to get control of illegal riders who destroy private property and endanger lives.

"Someone is going to get hurt," Niles police Chief Simeone said. "Just this week we had an ATV driver pull up behind one of our patrol cars, hit it and drive away."

In April, the Niles police department received 42 calls from residents about ATV drivers racing on private properties and on city streets. The number of complaints has been increasing over the last several years. Residents are complaining the vehicles are damaging their properties.

"Some of the drivers of these vehicles have a total disregard for the law," Simeone said.

Niles City Council last week began the process of increasing fines that will be imposed on drivers convicted of violating city regulations on ATV use.

Under the proposed ordinance, first-time offenders could be fined up to $100 and given three days in jail; a second offense could bring up to a $300 fine and 10 days in jail; and a third offense would cost up to $500 and a jail sentence of not less than 30 days. The city also considered fines of up to $1,000.

Current fines range from $50 to $500 with possible jail time from three to 30 days.

In addition to the monetary fines, offenders could have their vehicles immobilized or destroyed, depending on the number of related offenses. Currently, vehicles can be impounded but have to be returned after the sentence or fine is fulfilled.

Councilman Ed Stredney, D-3rd Ward, said complaints he has received about ATVs and four-wheelers have increased significantly over the last two years.

"I get about a dozen complaints a week from my constituents," Stredney said. "These vehicles are running at speeds of 60 mph to 70 mph through residential neighborhoods in the middle of the night. Some are driving through lawns, gardens and shrubs."

Some ATV drivers that are challenging law enforcement officials to catch them, Stredney said.

ATVs can be ridden on property belonging to the rider or someone who has given permission the vehicle to be driven on their property. They cannot be driven on state or municipal properties or on railroad lines.

McDonald Police Chief Lou Ronghi said the village does not have a lot of problems with ATV on the village's streets. However, the police receive a number of complaints about their use on abandoned industrialized properties, such as the former Lafarge plant.

"We've made seven or eight arrests on the industrial properties since 2007," Ronghi said. "We've arrested some riders who steal copper while on the properties and transport the stolen items while riding the vehicles.''

Warren Police Sgt. Jeffrey Cole said the police department experiences an increase in ATV complaints when the weather gets warmer.

Weathersfield police Chief Joseph Consiglio said he has the most problems with ATVs and four-wheelers during the late spring and during the summer months.

"The problem is more prevalent in the rural areas," Consiglio said. "A couple years ago, we sent some of our officers on ATVs into areas where we received the most reports. We were able to make apprehensions using this techniques. We might to this again."

Consiglio said the vehicles are a nuisance on the highways and do considerable damage to property.

"We attempt to stop them when we see them breaking the law," he said. "When we see drivers, we try to educate them on the law. Some of the drivers are very courteous and follow the law.

Lordstown police Chief Brent Milhoun said his community rarely has ATV or four-wheeler complaints.

"If we have a couple every three to four months, that would be a lot," Milhoun said.

The Trumbull County Chief of Police Association worked with state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood, D-Niles, in passing new stricter licensing regulations, trespass laws and increasing fines.

Source: http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/537027.html?nav=5021

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