CHICOPEE – The City Council is considering creating ordinances to help crack down on dirt bikes and ATVs, including a controversial proposal to ban gas stations from selling fuel to any illegal recreational vehicles.
The proposals are the same as those being considered by the Springfield City Council and are part of a three-city effort to crack down on problem dirt bikers who have been driving recklessly, creating loud noise and blocking traffic in the region, Councilor William Courchesne.
“We all need to do it collectively so we can push these people away,” said Courchesne, who added that if one community cracks down on the problem vehicles, riders simply move to the next city.
Mayors of Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke joined together in mid-August to announce they were working together to try to stop the problem dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles. The bikes are not designed to ride on the roads and not registered so they are illegal.
Police in the three communities, assisted by the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing helicopter, have been working together since the early summer to try to stop the problem.
But Courchesne said police also need some help to create or modify laws to stop the illegal riders. He contacted his counterparts on public safety committees and started working with Springfield State Rep. Orlando Ramos, who is also a City Councilor, and Terence Murphy, the acting Holyoke mayor, to work out some regulations.
One of the proposals Chicopee is considering modifies the city’s original ordinance on off-road vehicles to ensure they are them from all public roadways and other locations including parks and playgrounds. It also makes it illegal for bikers to run from police who are trying to stop them and requires drivers to register and insure the vehicles.
The second part beefs up fines for violations to $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second and $1,500 for the third.
Probably the most controversial of the three proposals is one that would ban owners of gas stations from selling fuel to bike owners. Exceptions are made for recreational vehicles which are on trailers therefore not being driven illegally. If passed, a violation comes with a $100 fine.
Springfield has been considering the same ordinance, which is currently being debated in subcommittee. During a meeting this summer over the issue, Robert Bolduc, owner of Pride gas stations, said he and other business owners are against the proposal because it would make his clerks’ jobs more difficult and they could face angry customers that could put them in danger.
But Courchesne said the Connecticut cities of Hartford and New Haven have passed similar laws about the sale of gasoline and have had no problems. A Hartford official is expected to visit the area and talk about the law to Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke representatives soon, Courchesne said.
When Councilor James K. Tillotson mentioned the fines are higher than usual, Courchesne said something has to be done especially after a group of illegal bikers severely beat a man in Springfield after he got into a minor crash with one.
The council voted 12-0 to study the three proposals more in subcommittee.
“I want to thank my colleagues. People are tired of the off-road vehicles and they are I’m happy to see the city work on this issue,” Councilor Derek Dobosz said.
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