ATV riders cause Dawson residents concern

Judy Kroeger

As happens every summer, ATV riders have come to Dawson.

Mayor Barbara Wilhelm said the problem is compounded by two factors: state police are based in Belle Vernon and take a while to reach the borough and some residents are too afraid of repercussions from the riders to testify against them.

"I've had people call me at 2 or 3 a.m. complaining about ATVs," Wilhelm said. "The state police want people to take pictures and testify, but people are scared to death of these kids. It's out of hand. I tell them to take pictures and go to the magistrate, but they say the kids could do damage to their house, to their vehicles."

Wilhelm said riders travel both the main roads, near the borough's basketball court and on a pathway down by the riverbank off River Road.

Councilman Jay Nelson discussed the ATV problem with District Judge Dwight Shaner two years ago. "All they have to do is ID them and testify, but in most cases, people don't know who they are. I stop the riders occasionally and talk to them, but they ignore you."

Like Wilhelm, Nelson has encountered residents too afraid to testify against illegal riders.

As for the state police, "It can be two to two and a half hours for a response. They have to come from Belle Vernon," Nelson said. "I'm in the process of establishing some sort of police presence in the area, but have made no progress yet."

Trooper Brian Burden, public information officer at the Belle Vernon and Uniontown stations, said, "This type of incident is difficult to manage, the reports of unregistered vehicles operating on the highways, without the assistance of the residents. Law enforcement will stop and cite anyone who does not obey the law. Sometimes, if we do not directly observe the violation, we can use witness testimony to file the appropriate charges."

Burden said that some communities have "assisted law enforcement by providing the name, location, direction and location of travel to officers and we have filed citations based on this information."

Burden said he would be willing to meet with Dawson residents and officials or other communities for information on handling illegal ATV riding.

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Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_638079.html

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