May 30, 2007 2:00 am US/Eastern
Baltimore County Looks To Stop Dirt Bike Violators
by Kathryn Brown
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) ―
With the travel season here and more children getting ready for summer break, Baltimore County officials have renewed efforts to crackdown on dirt bikes and other all-terrain vehicles.
Kathryn Brown talked to police about their new plan to curb the dangers posed by the use of the vehicles.
Some have called the use of ATV's and dirt bikes a brazen disregard for the law.
"They don't know how to ride them properly, they hit a bump and then all of a sudden they're at Shock Trauma paralyzed from the neck down," said Baltimore County Police spokesperson Mike Hill.
However, unlike Baltimore City where dirt bikes are legal to own but not to operate, dirt bikes in Baltimore County are legal to ride as long as certain requirements are followed.
Those laws state no riding between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. and no riding on roads or public property. All owners must register their bikes and helmets are required for minors.
Despite those rules, police say many of the riders do not pay them any attention.
"The biggest problem we have and complaints that we have are that they're driving down streets in Baltimore County, on side streets, on sidewalks, through people's driveways to get to an area where they can ride them," said Hill.
On average about 90 people per year are charged in Baltimore County for breaking off-road laws. So far this year, more than 30 have been charged.
"The kids in the city don't have nowhere to ride so they come down here," said Baltimore County resident Herb Warwick. "We've called the police on them numerous times but they can't catch them. It's very annoying when you hear these things buzzing up and down the road in the dark."
Though many riders weave in and out of traffic and down busy streets, no-chase laws hinder police from keeping close tabs on those who violate off-road laws.
Police leaders hope more awareness will lead to stricter adherence to the rules.
There are several designated parks in the county for off-roading and county officials said the demand for more has grown.
But there are no new plans for off-road parks in the works, and in the meantime, the potential for the common disturbance to turn deadly goes up as the peak of summer vacation draws near.
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