All-terrain vehicles plague Pocono roads

Adam McNaughton

Residents of one West End community say they are plagued with a growing problem that is all too familiar to many homeowners across Monroe County: all-terrain vehicles zipping along roads near their homes.

As the weather warms each spring in the Poconos, some ATV riders take to the streets. Residents of the Birch Hollow Estates community say Watercrest Boulevard has become a raceway as ATVs speed up and down the roads. State police say the problem is widespread.

"We do get a lot of complaints in the developments," said State Police Cpl. James Dunleavy, at the barracks at Fern Ridge. "On receiving complaints we investigate and if we are able to observe a violation we will issue that citation."

In Pennsylvania, driving an ATV on any street or highway that is not designated for ATV use is illegal, Dunleavy said, and no roads in Monroe County are designated.

But that does not stop some riders from taking their four-wheelers onto public roads — putting themselves and others on the road at risk.

Last month in Middle Smithfield Township, two teenage girls from New Jersey were cited after the ATVs they were riding crashed while they were driving on Flagstone Road. Both girls were taken to hospitals and the ATV owners were cited for allowing them to ride on roadways.

A woman who lives on Watercrest Boulevard in Birch Hollow Estates said she fears a similar crash — or worse — could happen near her home if ATV riders continue to drive on roads meant for cars.

"It's very disruptive when they come zipping down the road," said the woman, who asked only to be identified as Tina because she fears vandalism from neighbors who ride ATVs.

"They're here all the time. Some day somebody is going to have a terrible accident. There is no way this is going to stop unless something terrible happens."

Many of the residents of Birch Hollow Estates have taken to driving slowly on Watercrest because they are afraid of hitting an ATV, said a man named Melvin, who asked not to be identified by last name. He said other neighbors have had rocks and eggs thrown at their home after speaking up about the ATV problem.

"This is what we put up with constantly," Melvin said. "I have called police maybe a dozen times."

Troopers at the Fern Ridge state police barracks field an average of one ATV complaint per week, Dunleavy said. The complaints peak in the summer and during hunting season.

"For example if we get a complaint that the guy down the street is riding four-wheelers all day, we will go out and investigate and try to catch him in the act," Dunleavy said.

"If we are unable to observe a violation we will go to that house and advise them that we received a complaint about ATV use on roads and then make sure that they are aware of the regulations."

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Source: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100517/NEWS/5170326

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