PA Can Now Confiscate ATVs, Dirt Bikes Under New Law

HARRISBURG — A bill that enables authorities in urban areas to confiscate and potentially sell off or destroy all terrain vehicles and dirt bikes that operate illegally on public roadways has been signed by Gov. Tom Wolf and is now law in the commonwealth.

Wolf on Wednesday gave his approval to the measure, which also bans ATVs and dirt bikes from operating on sidewalks, shoulders, bike lanes and berms.

The state Senate had given its approval to the bill in June.

Related: PA Senate Passes Bill That Would Allow Destruction Of Illegal ATVs

The legislation, S.B. 1183, originally only applied to cities of the third class, but it was later amended to include cities of the first and second classes as well.

In Pennsylvania, the only city of the first class is Philadelphia, which is one of the places that has had an issue with people illegally riding ATVs and dirt bikes on public roads.

Meanwhile, the only state senator who had voted 'no' to the measure back in June was Nikil Saval, a Democrat whose district is in the City of Philadelphia.

The bill came in response to what lawmakers said was the rise of illegal operation of dirt bikes and ATVs on roadways throughout the state, typically by larger groups of riders who engage in "speeding and reckless driving," according to the office of Sen. Pat Browne, the Lehigh County Republican who had sponsored the bill.

"Through the passage of this legislation, the State Senate is taking aggressive action to combat the growing danger illegal dirt bike and ATV usage is presenting on our roadways," Browne said in a past statement. "We have seen countless incidences of property being destroyed, injuries to pedestrians and the tragic loss of life of innocent bystanders due to these reckless actions."

Places that are affected by the legislation include cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Reading, and others.

The new law allows police to confiscate ATVs and dirt bikes illegally operating in public and gives them the authority to take drastic measures such as destroying the machines.