Local police: legislation limits policing on growing dirt bike and ATV gang

WICOMICO COUNTY – Md. – Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis and State Senator Johnny Mautz both claim the Police Accountability Act of 2022 is preventing law enforcement from getting the dirt bike and ATV gangs off the streets of Wicomico County.

And, residents say that these illegal off road motorists are putting everybody in danger. “When you have an ATV doing a wheelie and a mom and her kid in the lane right next to it, it is hard not to be scared,” said Ryan Maitland of Salisbury.

Maitland says he was once almost involved in a head on collision with one of them. “No one is stopping them and you can tell they just do what they want,” he said.

While law enforcement wants to crack down, they say its the law itself that’s stopping them from doing so. Sheriff Lewis says officers are held liable for any injuries or deaths that may happen, if they start a high speed chase with the bikers.

“Maryland Lawmakers changed the rules of engagement,” Sheriff Lewis said. “It would be different if they just murdered someone, they would say you can chase them because they are murder suspects.”

Sheriff Lewis believes this is why drivers are seeing more activity from these off road vehicle gangs. He says they are “terrorizing residents” who legally use the roadways on a daily basis. Some lawmakers agree that the problem has only escalated in Wicomico County.

“The willful disregard of the law, that has to be addressed, there has to be consequences, there has to be enforcement,” said Sen. Mautz. “Unfortunately, that is not the case right now and that is what the Sheriff is talking about.”

Sen. Mautz says he and other lawmakers brought up concerns about the new police regulations before the law passed. However, he is doubtful there will be any amendments to the legislation.

“My clear perception of what I have heard from the leaders in Annapolis is that they do not intend to change them, that they want to see them in place longer,” said Sen. Mautz. Senator Mautz says lawmakers are watching how the law is working, and collecting data to see whether it’s helping or hindering communities across the state.

Sen. Mautz adds that law enforcement has tried other ways to stop the road gangs, without initiating a high speed chase. One of those efforts includes impounding the vehicles, and destroying them to prevent further use.