Illegal ATV riders will have vehicles destroyed by law

Those who ride all-terrain vehicles on city sidewalks and public property will soon face stiffer penalties after City Council approved legislation Thursday to address a safety concern.

The bill prohibits riders from riding, parking, placing, stopping or standing ATVs on public sidewalks or public property, including parks and recreation centers. Violators could receive a fine of up to $2,000 and police can confiscate their vehicles. The legislation does not apply to riders who park the vehicles outside their property.

Mayor Michael Nutter is expected to sign the bill into law, his spokesman said

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who introduced the bill on behalf of the Nutter Administration, said lawmakers wanted to address safety first, but plan to come back to the issue.

“I have made clear that this is step one in a multi-step process,” Brown said in a statement. “We are committed to sitting down with ATV enthusiasts for whom riding is a fun, recreational activity, and those in the private sector who see an opportunity for a safe and profitable business venture.”