City increases penalties for dirt bikes, ATVs

NEW HAVEN — The Board of Alders has approved an amendment to city law to increase penalties for dirt bike and ATV riders as a means of deterrence.

And this means at least $901 more in deterrence.

Under the revised ordinance, for riding one of the vehicles in the city illegally, first-time offenders will be slapped with a $1,000 fine, up from the current $99; for the second offense, the fine increases to $1,500; all offenses from then on are $2,000.

Gas stations must also post signs informing that they cannot sell gasoline to dirt bike and ATV riders; for every illegal rider who fills up at a gas station, the owner could be subject to a $100 fine.

Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow, D-27, said the ordinance language was crafted largely through a partnership between alders, two of the city’s top cops — Assistant Chiefs Karl Jacobson and Renee Dominguez — and city attorneys.

“It was something they asked to do and told us to take a back seat,” he said.

“It was a great partnership between the police department and the Board of Alders,” Fulow said. “We came up with this very strong ordinance that I think is going to work in favor of our city residents, not just those who drive automobiles but those who are pedestrians.”

Alder Charles Decker, D-9, the chairman of the board’s legislation committee, said the ordinance is expected to “strongly deter” illegal drivers in

streets and parks “without increasing police contact.”

Police officials have said

that a large number of those who they have arrested for riding dirt bikes

and ATVs reside outside of the city, but come to New Haven to ride. Dirt bikes and ATVs cannot legally ride on the sidewalk or on any street.

The matter appeared on the board’s agenda twice before it was approved this week, with Furlow passing over the matter two times.

In speaking with the press over the summer, Mayor Justin Elicker said dirt bikes are “one of the most frequent complaints that I get in every single neighborhood around the city.”

New Haven has a strict no-chase policy for safety reasons and Police Chief Otoniel Reyes has said that, “oftentimes these individuals, who are engaging in reckless behavior, they want to be pursued. They are taunting the police to be pursued.”

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media In this photo from May 20, Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson speaks at podium, right, during a New Haven Police Department press conference announcing all terrain vehicle and dirt bike enforcement.