Dover Police release statement on ban of off-road vehicles on City streets
DOVER, Del. – Dover Police have released a Public Service Announcement regarding a recent city ordinance regarding off-highway vehicles.
On July 8th, Dover City Council revised a local law, banning dirt bikes, ATVs, Quads, and other motorized vehicles that are not “street” legal or compliant to the vehicle code for use on public traffic ways.
The PSA is as follows:
“Hey Dover, Tom Johnson, I’m the Chief of Police, City of Dover Police Department. I want to talk to you today about off road vehicles, dirt bikes, quads, and the dangers that they present to the community when they’re out in traffic. It’s a constant problem all over America. Dover is no different, and we’re trying to make things safer. We’re trying to make things better for everybody’s quality of life. Dover City Council just recently passed an ordinance outlawing these vehicles on City streets and on public property. This is a heads up to anybody that might enjoy their motorcycle, enjoy their four-wheeler, they have an off-road vehicle. You can’t have it on city streets. It’s too dangerous, too many bad things can happen; people get hurt. An ordinance was passed that has very heavy fines for anybody caught riding one of these things, moving through the city on one of these things, letting your friend, letting your child, whatever the case may be, 1000s of dollars will be coming your way in fines and court costs if the Dover Police catch you on the streets or on public property in an off-highway vehicle. This is a warning. This is a heads up. We don’t want to be confiscating people’s private property. We don’t want to be enforcing this ordinance unless we have to. So please confine your activities to the places that are designed for dirt bikes, that are designed for four-wheelers, and not on city streets where, inevitably there’s a tragedy, somebody gets hurt. We want to give you the heads up. Enforcement is coming soon. Stay safe, enjoy your recreation, but we need to do it responsibly.”
Community members should expect investigations and enforcement to begin with the arrival of Labor Day weekend and the end of the summer travel season. Confiscated vehicles will be converted to revenues reserved for use in support of victims of violent crime or tragic events.
