Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Senate approves tougher penalties for street takeovers, allows municipalities to destroy seized ATVs and dirt bikes
Loading...
Summary
The Senate passed a bill giving municipalities authority to create ordinances penalizing street takeovers and permitting destruction of seized off‑road vehicles after notice and waiting periods. Supporters called the measure a necessary public‑safety tool; some senators raised concerns about civil‑forfeiture and returning stolen property to rightful owners.
The Connecticut Senate on Wednesday approved legislation aimed at curbing street takeovers and the illegal use of ATVs and dirt bikes on public roads, authorizing municipalities to adopt ordinances that include penalties up to license suspension and, under certain conditions, destruction of seized vehicles.
Senator Douglas Winfield, who presented the bill, said it targets organized street takeovers—where groups block roads and perform dangerous stunts—and gives towns an enforcement tool. "What the bill does is it allows for penalties for folks who participate in the street takeovers, related to their license up to and including on the third part third time ... having their license revoked," Winfield said.
Municipal leaders and police pushed for the ability to destroy seized vehicles rather than auction them. Senator Kissel argued that auctioning seized ATVs often returns them to perpetrators, while destroying the vehicles removes the instruments of illegal behavior: "If we turn around and auction them off, they end up in the hands of the perpetrators of these street takeovers ... so the ask this year ... was we want to be able to get rid of these vehicles." Opponents and some questioners sought safeguards for rightful owners in stolen‑property cases and raised civil‑forfeiture concerns. Senator Sampson asked how municipalities would identify and notify true owners; sponsors said the ordinance requirement and a 30‑day notice/retrieval window were intended to preserve due process.
The vote: The Senate adopted a technical amendment and passed the bill on a roll call. Journaled tallies show the bill passed on the floor by recorded vote.
What’s next: The measure passed the Senate and will proceed along the legislative process noted in the journal.
