Letter: Chasing rogue ATVs is not a safe solution

It is absolutely illegal to operate ATVs on any street or in any park in Philadelphia. The Police Department and specifically the district commanders are well aware of the nuisance, damage, and dangerous effects these vehicles have on our community. Nevertheless, my commanders are often placed in the untenable position of trying to balance enforcement actions without increasing the dangers to the public. Chasing ATVs with conventional police vehicles or even police ATVs, as suggested, is simply a tragedy waiting to occur. While I understand the frustration of my officers and communities they serve, there is absolutely no life worth risking to chase an ATV.

This does not mean that police should sit idly and allow this behavior to continue. On the contrary, many commanders are aggressively balancing these complaints with public safety by successfully developing smarter and more creative tactics to capture these violators. Rest assured, when these violators are caught, they are cited, and the vehicles are seized.

This is truly a community problem. While the Police Department will aggressively enforce the laws, we cannot and will not endanger the public in doing so. Chasing ATVs is clearly not the answer. The safest and most effective way to solve this problem is through smart policing combined with community collaboration. The residents of our neighborhoods that are most affected by these nuisances know where these violators reside. They know the minute they hit the streets. Coordinating this information with smart police tactics can eliminate these ATVs without risking a single life, including the violators'.

I ask that the residents of Philadelphia join us in our efforts to make the streets a safer place.

Charles H. Ramsey

Philadelphia police commissioner

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Source: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20091020_Letters__Chasing_rogue_ATVs_is_not_a_safe_solution.html

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