The recent article in the New Haven Register on illegal dirt bikes and ATVs once again points out the severity of this ongoing problem.
The police are not allowed to chase them and the fines are too low if they get caught. This works in favor of the illegal riders as current laws do nothing to discourage these riders.
Social media is also at fault here as it often encourages riders to show off with videos.
State legislators are currently looking at bills to address illegal dirt bikes and ATV riders. The legislators need to consider total confiscation of these bikes and ATVs the very first them they are caught. No possible way of getting them back. To this add a fine of at least $2,500.
This bill would also need to be signed into law long before the summer of 2013 arrives. It’s time to take a more aggressive stand with this issue, and our legislators have the ability to finally address this problem, if they so choose, with more stringent laws.
Dennis N. Silvestri
New Haven