Kendall County Sheriff Has Received 'Steady Increase In Complaints' About ATVs, Dirt Bikes

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff's Office has seen a "steady increase in complaints" about non-highway vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes, officials said Thursday morning.

Illinois law prohibits all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, off-highway motorcycles and recreational vehicles from driving on public roads. They're also not allowed in the Kendall County Forest Preserves.

Officials said complaints are often lodged regarding children using off-road vehicles.

Asked for the number of complaints the office has received this year so far, Deputy Dan Briars said: “I don’t have specific numbers, but in the last year or two it is one of, if not the most common concerns we hear at community and neighborhood meetings, and it only seems to be increasing. We do regularly get calls to dispatch as well.”

"Our goal is to gain voluntary compliance by educating operators and their parents or guardians about the dangers and legal consequences of operating such vehicles on public roadways," the sheriff’s office wrote in a Thursday morning Facebook post.

The sheriff's office is asking drivers and parents to ensure they're familiar with the state statute and know when it's appropriate to use non-highway vehicles. Places where they can be operated include private property, with permission from the owner of the grounds, or at a location designated for these activities.

"We are taking these steps now with the hope that a serious injury crash involving a non-highway vehicle can be prevented in the future," officials said.