Bristol Decides To Keep An Eye On Citizen Concerns With ATVs, Dirt Bikes

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

May 6, 2022

City Council members have decided to keep an eye on citizen concerns with ATVs and dirt bikes. This comes in light of state laws already on the books and news in regard to how the Bristol Police Department is handling the issue.

“I looked into a few different ordinances and spoke with other communities and such,” said Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould. “I first want say there are already laws in place to address this. We have state laws and we also have motor vehicle state laws that deal with unregistered, uninsured motor vehicles and then there’s a whole set of laws dealing with off-road vehicles.”

With the turn into warmer weather, area residents have been complaining about what some would call reckless driving habits of some ATV and dirt bike riders on city roads, trespassing on property or driving in improper areas through city parks.

Gould said the city was likely not currently equipped to handle an ordinance addressing such issues because Bristol would have to set up a “community court” or other avenue. The creation of a new ordinance, he felt, brought need for a legal system addressing the due process and challenging of such an ordinance's enforcement “back to the city.”

“We already can seize motorcycles and ATVs and such in violation of the law and handle it through the court system,” said Gould. “Talking to our state's attorneys, they’re willing to assist us with that and we’ve already made some arrests and seized bikes as well, but we’re handling it through the court system.”

A vehicle could be seized through a criminal arrest under a search and seizure warrant or a similar court order.

“We are willing to do our part and we understand what’s going out there,” said the chief. “It’s frustrating to us as well dealing with these issues, but we already have systems in place with our court and we’re cooperating with that system.”

Gould said he had concern that if the city created an ordinance to seize vehicles, it could create legal challenges for the city.

Councilwoman Cheryl Thibeault asked the chief how often the police were getting calls pertaining to concerns with ATVs and dirt bikes. He replied law enforcement was receiving calls often, especially on weekends, and in specific pockets of the city.

Councilwoman Sue Tyler asked the chief if any of the ordinances of other towns he had explored had portions of their legislation that he felt may be effective for Bristol. Gould replied that many of the ordinances were varied and different, ranging from limiting times of day for ATV operation to how they could be used on private property and more.

“I don’t know if our community wants to push that far into it at this point, I think it’s more about operating on the roads and in our parks, which we already have park violations and stuff we can enforce,” said Gould. “There are some (municipalities) that hold their fuel stations accountable, where (ATVs) cannot pull up and get fuel and the fuel station could be cited for allowing that to happen.”

He noted that some communities hold recreational vehicle vendors also accountable, if notices aren’t posted informing would-be buyers of potential fines in illegal vehicle use.

Councilman Andrew Howe voiced that the city’s park officials were looking into environmental manipulations to dissuade ATV riders from driving through trails and other areas not meant for such use. Councilwoman Jacqueline Olsen expressed interest in the idea of holding vendors potentially accountable.

Should residents have concerns about such vehicles, they can call 860-585-TIPS to make an anonymous report or to email BPDCrimeWatch@BristolCT.gov.