Go Karts, ATVs On Joliet's Streets? Not Anymore: New Police Chief

JOLIET, IL — Spring is here and summer is near and that means hundreds of people will be riding their dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and mopeds on many of Joliet's busiest roads, including West Jefferson Street. Or will they?

New Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans announced at Tuesday night's meeting that he is directing the traffic unit to initiate aggressive enforcement against people riding ATVs, dirt bikes and other vehicles that are not considered street legal.

Evans said he has been researching efforts in nearby Kankakee, where the Kankakee City Council has implemented a number of ordinances to crack down on illegal vehicles driving in Kankakee.

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk applauded the new police chief's efforts to target dirt bikes and four wheelers on the city's streets.

During Tuesday night's discussion phase of the Council meeting, O'Dekirk remarked, "Councilwoman (Jan) Quillman and Councilman (Joe) Clement, we have all talked about the ongoing problem that's happened the last couple summers with motorbikes or four-wheelers, vehicles that don't belong, they're not licensed to be in the street traveling all over Joliet roads. Sometimes in packs.

"I saw a traffic accident a couple weeks ago where a bike in the dark was driving without lights and got hit by a car on Raynor Avenue."

Evans assured the mayor and Council that his traffic unit, along with the Joliet Police Department's Neighborhood Oriented Policing Team, as well as the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force, have been notified to start taking initiative "to address the concerns" surrounding off-road vehicles using Joliet's streets.

Evans said that one suggestion is for Joliet to enact an ordinance making it illegal for gas stations to sell fuel to off-road vehicles that pull into the service station.

For the time being, Evans believes that efforts to undertake a public awareness campaign on the issue may be a good first step.

"We understand this isn't going to be an overnight thing," Evans told the Council.

Councilman Clement said he is happy to hear that Chief Evans is planning to step up the enforcement efforts to target ATVs and dirt bikes using Joliet's streets.

"They're terrorizing neighborhoods, they're unsafe, they're scaring the elderly," Clement said. "Thank you for getting on this right away."

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