Article posted states that fines range from $25 to $300.  There were two incidents of this already in December listed on the most recent police blotter.  Posting the article is a great way to inform residents of laws surrounding atv and snowmobile riding, however, actually enforcing the laws and issuing fines would be a better deterrent as opposed to giving warnings. 

Just my $.02.

CD

I agree.  I drive on Blueball road to go to Fawn Grove and almost every time I see ATV’s riding in the road.  At the intersection of Blueball and Wheat rd there is a field and you can see up to 15 or 20 of them riding around, and they get there by driving on the roads.  And there is always a group of teenagers hanging around(usually in the middle of the road) and if your paying attention to the atv’s to see if they are going to dart in front of your car to get to the other field you might not see them in time to prevent an accident from happening, and then their parents will have waited too late to say would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.  I have reported them many times, but the problem is that some of them carry portable scanners to hear the police calls and the leave the area till the police have left.  If the police( I mean state) would just take a drive out this way in the evening, or on the weekends they would see them, and i bet if 15-20 parents would get a $300 ticket a few times, these kids would soon be stopped.  I know that there is little for the kids to do out in the country, but that is no reason to continually look the other way.  It is a law because it is a danger to the atv riders, and for the vechiles that have the right to drive on the roads.  Sorry about the rant but, almost hit one this past weekend and don’t think things will change very soon.  

Teresa16401

State police won’t do anything because the excuse you will be given is that by the time they arrive in the area the ATV’s are long gone. Also state police vehicles cannot keep up with ATV’s if the police happen to be in the area and catch the ATV’s on the road. The ATV’s drive into fields which state police vehicles are not made to do. The best thing to do is if you have a camera take a photograph of the ATV’s and call the state police and when they stop by show them the photograph. It’s the only valid evidence you have to depend upon.

Could’ve racked up a boatload of fines off the ATV’s lastnight.  I think there were more ATV’s than cars on the road from about 8-11 in the evening.  Not sure if there were any police on, the schedule is so unclear to me I’m unsure when we have coverage at all.  Yawn…

CD

Crawdaddy - They are still running around the station. I agree. No point in calling the cops. It wont do much good. No point in confronting them either...they wont care much. The only thing I could hope for is that they screw up and wreck or hurt an innocent. (Not that I would really want that to happen...maybe wreck into a car or house where the ATV rider is worse for the wear.) Then you will be able to make a case.

To be honest, if I had one, I would ride it too! BUT enough is enough. Dont you think that hauling a$$ up and down the roads at midnight is a little too much? If they were silent, I would not care either...I can see Stewartstown justice now. They ride all over the place, my dogs bark at them (which they do) and I would get a fine for having my dogs barking for more than 15 minutes (which is a HOA rule...bark for more than 15 and someone complains...you get a fine) Silly world.   

one man’s loud atv is another man’s dog barking...thing is, the cops can’t catch the atv...even with a 4wd vehicle

I’ll have to disagree Guy, and the last two police blotters show clear examples of this…

December 9, 2003, 3:50 p.m. - Complainant reported ATV’s riding through his yard at 15 Ovelton Ave. Subjects were warned and advised of ATV laws of Pennsylvania.

December 5, 2003, 9:31 a.m. - Complainant reported several ATV’s being driven on Mill St and surrounding areas. Two male youths were issued warnings.

December 5, 2003, 4:20 p.m. - Three ATV riders from Baltimore area were warned about riding on the road in area of N. Main St.

Again, three seperate instances where the police WERE able to catch the riders but only issued warnings.  In my opinion this also represents three lost opportunity’s by the police to deter future incidents with a fine. 

CD

Good point Crawdaddy. But with most nuisance instances, a warning first is the way to go, and if the police happen to stop the same individual a second time, throw the book at them. There could be no excuse from the rider at that point.

Being that its a nuisance more than anything else (until someone gets hurt) and considering there are only 5-10 days a year that snow is on the roads for them to ride on - is it really worth hunting them down. Is it a good use of resources? I feel that a first time warning is well worth it, but it also should be remembered. If an officer issues a warning to a person this year, and happens to stop that same person next year, or two years later...no warning, but a fine.

Sure, its hard to have an open mind about this when they have been zipping up and down the road for a few hours, or a few days in a row...but all things considered, its just another day in a small town. When I stop to thing about it, its great to have something like this as my latest gripe considering where I have been and really had to worry about.

You make good points also jmkas, it’s just a dissapointment to me to see such a dangerous activity happen with such frequency each and every snow storm we have.  Guess I’ll just get used to it, cause I know it won’t change.

CD

Thanks Crawdaddy. I was wondering. Is there somewhere for the ATV riders to go? Most open space around here is private farmland. If they are riding there, then they either have permission or they are trespassing. Are public parks open to ATV riders? If the parks are not available, and private land is out of the question, as well as public roads then it is easy to see why they use the roads...If no matter where you ride is breaking some sort of law...they are just going to do it anyway and take their chances.

As for the danger involved....sure its dangerous, but doing it properly and with supervision (if required) sure can make it alot of fun. (Thats why they do it) - just like riding a jetski - thats dangerous too, but no one complains unless they are riding in their private waterspace. I understand that riding the roads after dark lacks some sense, and increases the danger...but sadly I feel that it will continue (just as you and I admit) until a tragic event occurs.

Calling for snow tomorrow and friday!
 

When I was younger I desperately wanted a motorcycle, my parents would not even let me save and buy one myself and their main reasoning was that I had nowhere to ride it and they didn’t want to see me ride it on the road

CD