ATV Crackdown: Oxford Officials To Get Tough On Off-Road Vehicles

OXFORD, CT — The Town of Oxford is getting tough on unregistered off-road vehicles.

First Selectman George Temple announced on Facebook that local lawmakers are crafting an ordinance that would allow the town to impound an unregistered ATV or dirt bike caught driving on a public roadway.

The crackdown follows a "near tragedy" near the sandpit on Coppermine Road, according to Temple. An unregistered dirt bike driver from Shelton was seriously injured when he collided head-on with an all-terrain vehicle.

"This illustrates the escalating problem we are having with unregistered vehicles being driven on our roadways by unlicensed and inexperienced drivers," Temple posted.

The first selectman took less issue with the vehicles, than with the parents of the riders.

"Unfortunately, most of the blame for this problem lies with the overindulgent parents who do not wish to exercise parental control over their kids. This puts them at an unnecessary risk for serious injury or worse," Temple said.

Areas where quads can legally be ridden in Connecticut are limited. Since 2006, riding an ATV on state or municipal property may result in charges of criminal trespass, except where specifically allowed. Neither are any state-managed areas open to dirt bikes, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Temple said he was not a fan of having to implement such "draconian restrictions," but would do what he could to "prevent the inevitable heartbreaking accident from happening."