Board passes punishment for ATVs, dirt bikes on Waterbury roads

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — An ordinance amendment passes in Waterbury Monday night, increasing penalties for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes.

During the meeting, city residents pleaded with the Board of Aldermen to pass an ordinance amendment for stricter enforcement and penalties for illegal ATV and dirt bike use they said plagues city streets.

“The way they’re used in our city streets scare a lot of people,” Lex Nesta, a Waterbury resident, said.

Nesta wasn’t alone in her frustration.

“They have no regard for the law. They are riding in other lanes, stopping traffic, kicking people’s cars. I’ve seen so much stuff so whatever we have to do to get these people off the roads,” Gary Hitchgo, of Waterbury, said.

The Board agreed, passing the motion unanimously.

Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski testified in favor, driving up fines to the maximum state law allows: $1,000 for the first offense, $1,500 for the second and $2,000 for the third. All fines must be paid within 30 days and ownership of each vehicle must be proven.

“If they don’t meet all three of those things, we can actually hold onto them and sell them at auction,” Pernerewski said.

Pernerewski said those amendments to the ordinance will go into effect in 30 days.

“We have had some success last year,” Pernerewski said. “[Chief of the Waterbury Police Department Fernando Spagnolo] started a special task force to address them and the numbers went down towards the end of last summer, so we’re hoping this just builds on what we have.”

The task force took around 20 ATVs off the street and they’re using new technology, like drones, to seize even more this summer.

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