Bethlehem passes new law to crack down on illegal dirt bike and ATV use

Bethlehem City Council unanimously approved a city ordinance that would crack down on illegal use of dirt bikes and ATVs on city roads.

The new law will take effect after an educational “grace period,” according to police Chief Michelle Kott. It enacts fines for people that illegally operate dirt bikes and ATVs in the city, and makes it illegal for gas stations to sell gas to illegal vehicle operators.

The new ordinance comes two years after Pennsylvania lawmakers allowed police departments to seize illegal ATVs and dirt bikes, aiming to deter prospective riders.

But Bethlehem police Chief Michelle Kott said more measures are needed in Bethlehem. The department has investigated seven illegal dirt bike-related accidents since 2022.

“The menace of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs is not merely a minor inconvenience but a serious threat to public safety and community well-being,” Kott said.

“The menace of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs is not merely a minor inconvenience but a serious threat to public safety and community well-being,” Kott said at a City Council meeting in early September.

Kott said there would be a “grace period” before the police officers start enforcing the law, although she did not specify how long the grace period would last. During that time, the police department will educate the public about the law: Kott said Bethlehem police officers plan to visit every gas station in the city to educate owners and employees about the ordinance.

Gas station employees can call Bethlehem police if they see illegal dirt bike and ATV riders attempting to fill their tanks, she said. Bethlehem officers would also use “discretion” when deciding whether or not to seize a vehicle being driven illegally, Kott said.

Bethlehem police worked with Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta to draft the new city law. Council member Bryan Callahan asked if Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan is also supportive of the ordinance — Bethlehem straddles the border of both counties.

“[Holihan] is very aggressively going after this problem because of how pervasive it is, so this should not be a problem,” Kott said.

The new ordinance will impose a $50-$200 fine for a first offense and $100-$300 for subsequent offenses.

Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com .