With officials saying they have become “a problem,” the Oswego Village Board has approved new measures to stop the use of off-road vehicles on village streets.
Trustees have authorized amendments to the village code that will allow for seizure and impoundment of the vehicle if a driver is operating a vehicle not designed for highway use on local roads. Another amendment authorizes a fee of up to $500 to get the vehicle out of impoundment.
These “non-highway” vehicles are not allowed to be operated on any street, road or highway in the state unless a local ordinance permits otherwise, according to officials. These vehicles are defined as an ATV, golf cart, off-highway motorcycle and recreational off-highway vehicle, Oswego Police Chief Jeff Burgner said.
Oswego police have seen an uptick in the number of complaints about people illegally driving all-terrain vehicles and mini-bikes on roadways in the village, Burgner said.
“It’s become a problem in our community,” Burgner told Oswego Village Board members.
More Top Picks Ratings
The department handled 45 complaints about the issue from January to July 2020. Those numbers increased to 152 complaints during the same time period this year, Burgner said.
The complaints have included people riding the vehicles on roadways, speeding, riding on private property where they are trespassing and disobeying traffic signals and signs, officials said.
There have been times when police have witnessed people illegally driving the vehicles and the offender has refused to stop for police, according to officials.
“These operators on many occasions have gotten far more brazen than they have in the past,” Burgner said. “They are riding wheelies, running red lights and stop signs. There have been occasions when police officers attempt to stop the driver and they have refused to stop.”
Burgner recommended the Village Board add the operating of non-highway vehicles on roadways, streets and highways to the village code which currently allows for the seizure and impoundment of these vehicles under a number of other moving violations such as driving without a valid license and drunken driving.
“But if the operator is not in violation of those particular offenses, the vehicle would likely not be subject to police impounding it. The amendment makes it a ‘clear cut offense’ if a driver is operating this type of vehicle on the street, roadway or highway,” Burgner said.
“It doesn’t matter whether they have a driver’s license or insurance. Because they are operating on the roadways gives us the ability to impound the vehicle,” he said.
Oswego police are using social media to inform residents about the issue and encourage people to help identify offenders.
“We really rely on our community to help us out,” Burgner said.
Since the department began posting information on social media, police have gathered information on areas where people have seen ATVs being operated illegally and in some cases have identified individuals and put them on notice, officials said.
“These vehicles are not safe to be on the roadway – that’s the bottom line. These are not intended to be on the roads and they are not allowed on the roads in the village,” Burgner said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.