Suffolk Police To Announce Plan To Crack Down On Illegal ATV Use

YAPHANK, NY — Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison is set to announce on Friday a five-point plan to crackdown on the illegal use of all-terrain vehicles, as well as plans to enact a Crime Stoppers Fast Cash Reward for information leading to the impounding of an ATV or dirt bike.

ATV riding on public roadways has an issue impacting "many communities" with residents reporting "complaints of noise, property damage, and unsafe roadway/sidewalk traffic," police said, noting that, in 2021, officers responded to about 3,300 calls of complaints.

It is illegal to operate ATVs on public roadways.

Suffolk brass, including Harrison, and Chief of Patrol Gerard Hardy, and Crime Stoppers' Pat Fazio are expected to announce the plan at the Department of Public Works yard in Yaphank on Friday morning.

Three people were charged with illegally operating ATVs back in November after a mob of 50 to 100 bikers and ATV riders crowded Sound Avenue in Wading River and two crashes followed in Ridge and Rocky Point, police said.

In February, the passenger of a car was punched in a fight with an ATV rider who was part of a pack blocking traffic in Medford, according to police.

The pack of riders blocked traffic at Woodside Avenue, near Route 112, just before 4 p.m. on Feb. 12 , said police, adding that a male passenger in a 2020 Jeep left the vehicle and got into a fight with one of the riders and the rider punched him.

"The passenger, who refused medical attention, got back in the vehicle and the vehicle continued eastbound and the riders then damaged the Jeep, " a police spokeswoman said, adding that it was dented on a door and a side-view mirror was damaged.

No one has been arrested in the incident.

Crime Section officers and detectives from the 5th Precinct are continuing to investigate.

No other details were immediately available from police.

Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, or by using a mobile app that can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips. Tips can also be submitted online at www.P3Tips.com.