NEW HAVEN, Conn. — City parks like Edgewood Skatepark has seen its fair share of damage from ATV and dirt bikes in the past. It’s the backdrop the city chose to announce a new ordinance that hopes to crack down on illegal riders while limiting the number of arrests.
"We had an event where as many as 10,000 motorcycles come into the city [last year] so there is a lot of disregard for the rules and the law that we are trying to handle in a way that is effective," said Mayor Justin Elicker.
The Elm City’s board of Alders passed an ordinance to strengthen those laws and penalties for participating or supporting the illegal rides.
If you are caught riding on city streets the first offense for an operator is $1000. Second offense is $1,500 and the third and subsequent offenses are $3,ed00 fines. A passenger over 16 is a $250 fine.
"The other is fine is on gas stations that serve gas to individuals riding dirt bikes and ATVs," said Elicker.
The city's 50 gas stations are required to post signage that says they won’t sell to riders.
"The ordinance takes it one step further where any dealership and New Haven has to post signage that you cannot ride these vehicles on the city streets," said Chief of Police Renee Dominguez.
Some residents feel getting illegal riders off city streets could be helped by creating a safe place for them to ride.
"It will cut down the illegal part of it. They’ll come out there and have a good time. Maybe somewhere in the Edgewood Ave. Park they can find a spot for them," said Mitch Cannon.
But the city says there isn’t a perfect place to put that type of free space without disrupting residential life. The city also feels some of the allure for ATV and dirt bike riders is precisely its law-breaking nature.
"We don’t want to arrest people We don’t want to give $1000 fine. We just don’t want you riding on the street and being unsafe," said Asst. Chief of Police Karl Jacobson.
New Haven Police say that even if you aren’t caught in the act, it doesn’t mean you won’t receive a fine in the future. They can use surveillance video, body camera footage and even your social media posts to identify perpetrators, issue fines and siege your bikes.
*Editor's note: Video shows Hartford police crushing illegal dirtbikes and ATV's
--
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.