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Stratford council adopts ordinance restricting ATVs, adds forfeiture and hearing language
Summary
The Town of Stratford council on Feb. 10 adopted an ordinance limiting all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and similar motorized recreational vehicles, adding language allowing seizure and potential forfeiture subject to a post-seizure hearing.
The Town of Stratford Town Council on Feb. 10 adopted an ordinance regulating all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, mini motorcycles, EPAMs and other motorized recreational vehicles, adding language that allows police to seize vehicles used in violation of the new rule and providing for a post-seizure hearing before forfeiture.
Town Attorney Tom Florek proposed two amendments during the second-reading motion: replacing absolute-forfeiture wording with “may be forfeited to the town in accordance with section 48-5 below” and inserting a requirement that impoundment be “pending a hearing pursuant to section 48-5 below.” Florek read the revised sentence into the record: "Any motorized recreational vehicle used in violation of section 48-2 may be seized by any police officer and may be forfeited to the town in accordance with section 48-5 below." He also recommended inserting "pending a hearing pursuant to section 48-5 below" after the word "impoundment." Those changes were incorporated into the motion and approved.
Council members debated the ordinance's novelty and enforcement. A council member noted the town is among the "first wave" of municipalities passing this kind of regulation and said the council expects to return to the ordinance for amendments once the state legislature completes related "street takeover" legislation. Representative Gresco, who said he sits on the state Public Safety and Security Committee, told the council that the street-takeover bill is a legislative priority and offered to keep lines of communication open between the delegation and the council as the state process moves forward.
The council approved the ordinance in a roll call vote after the amendment. Votes recorded in the meeting transcript were: O'Connor — yes; Green — yes; Frieland — yes; Whittem — yes; Sheink — yes; Buellen — yes; Aurelius — yes; Chair pro tem O'Neil — yes. The motion passed unanimously.
The ordinance text references sections 48-2, 48-3(g) and 48-5 of the town code and cross-references Connecticut General Statutes 14-66c for liens related to motorized recreational vehicles. Council members said they expect to revisit the measure if and when the state enacts additional enabling language for related street-takeover enforcement.
The council moved to the next agenda item after the vote.
