WESTPORT, Conn — A teen in Westport died after their dirt bike collided with a fully loaded dump truck Wednesday afternoon, according to police. The crash on Old Hill Road is the latest in a string of deadly crashes involving dirt bikes on Connecticut roads.
“There's a reason they call them dirt bikes,” Wolcott Police Chief Ed Stephens told FOX61. “They're not made for the street.”
Stephens said illegal dirt bikes are wreaking havoc across the state.
“They do create a hazard because the people that drive them, a lot of them, you'll find they're youths, kids that [don't have] licenses or anything, and they just jump out on the roadway and drive, not knowing the laws of the road, you know, not knowing you shouldn't cut in front of a car or, you know, turn too quick,” he said.
Stephens says most of the dirt bikes you see on the roads are not registered to be there and are not equipped with the right safety features such as mirrors, lighting and license plates.
“There's a very good chance of them getting injured or, you know, worse. So, you know, we don't chase them, we can't chase them based on state policy; these kids know that nothing's going to happen to them, and they continue to do it,” Stephens said.
Stephens said cracking down on unregistered dirt bikes is no easy task because state policy prevents officers from pursuing motor vehicles for traffic violations.
“The police basically have to sit there and watch them go by and [there's] not a lot we can do and, unfortunately, a lot more of these dirt bike riders know this, and they'll taunt the police,” he said.
Wolcott police issue citations when possible, like at gas stations, but Stephens recommends the real police work start at home.
“My message to parents is if you don't have your own private property to operate these on, don't buy them for your kids.”
Those caught riding an illegal dirt bike could face a hefty fine of $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for second offense or $2,000 for multiple violations.
Officers can also confiscate the bike, and owners will have to prove ownership of the bike to retrieve it.
----
Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
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.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.