Police making progress on town's ATV/motorcycle ordinance

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Jun. 16—W I L L I M A N T I C / WINDHAM — Amidst recent reports of motor bikes being driven on the American Legion field over the weekend, Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers said police have made progress enforcing the town's ATV/ motorcycle ordinance.

" It's a process," Rivers said during the June 7 town council meeting. " The police are putting a lot more time into it and using the ordinance when appropriate."

The ordinance was approved by the Town Council in December and took effect on Jan. 20. It is designed to address illegal ATV/ motorbike activity, which has been an issue for years and has caused several accidents.

"What the ATV ordinance did was it increased the fines to make it sting more when we do get one of these violators of the law, but the law was already there," Rivers said.

Under state law, fines for illegal use of ATV's and snowmobiles go up to $250 for each offense. Under the approved ordinance, fines vary from $ 1,000 for the first offense to $ 2,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.

The ordinance also includes a $ 100 fine that would be issued for the first and subsequent offenses to gasoline and motor vehicle service station owners and operators who sell fuel to ATV and dirtbike operators.

Windham Town Council President Dawn Niles said she felt the situation was " getting worse," noting that there were recently people riding through the East Brook Mall in Mansfield. She also mentioned the dirtbike activity at the American Legion little league fields over the weekend.

Rivers said Tuesday that residents have reported that activity to him, but he didn't have details. He said the town is "making progress" but as other situations arise, such as burglaries, and bad accidents, the police have to address them.

" It's important but at times, we have other priorities and the police force does not have unlimited resources," Rivers said.

Willimantic Police are responsible for enforcing the ordinance in Willimantic, while state police are responsible for enforcing the ordinance in the Windham villages.

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