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House approves bill letting towns regulate ATVs, dirt bikes and criminal street takeovers after heated debate
Summary
Legislation passed permitting municipalities to regulate and, in some cases, impound or forfeit ATVs, dirt bikes and mini-motorcycles and to adopt ordinances targeting illegal street takeovers; floor debate focused on notice procedures, owner identification for unregistered vehicles and local storage burdens.
The House approved a bill authorizing municipalities to adopt ordinances limiting where and when ATVs, dirt bikes and mini motorcycles may operate and to impose penalties and forfeitures for repeated violations. The measure also authorizes ordinances to prohibit organizing, participating in or gathering with intent to observe illegal street takeovers and creates civil penalties, impoundment authority, and license-suspension provisions for participants.
Representative Susino, speaking for the proponent side, said the bill responds to requests from municipalities to address unlawful and dangerous street takeovers and problematic off-road vehicle use. He described civil penalties and graduated license-suspension for participants: 45 days for first and second offenses and permanent revocation for third or subsequent offenses in takeover cases.
Floor debate proved extensive. Representative Fishbein challenged due-process and practical enforcement questions: how towns would identify owners of unregistered off-road vehicles and how notices should be delivered so towns do not retain abandoned or stolen vehicles indefinitely. Representatives expressed concern that mailing notices could leave municipalities stuck holding unclaimed vehicles for long periods, creating storage and cost burdens. Representative Fazino and others noted the bill's intent to target unlawful use and said destruction/auction provisions apply to vehicles violating specific municipal authorized-use ordinances, not the street-takeover provisions.
An amendment (LCO 91111) to remove a population threshold for which towns may adopt certain seizure powers failed on a roll-call. After debate and a recorded vote the House passed the bill as amended by voice and roll procedures. Supporters said the bill provides local authorities new tools to address dangerous activity; critics warned of potential unintended consequences for stolen vehicles and municipal budgets.
The measure provides procedural guardrails but left several operational issues to municipal ordinances and follow-up implementation guidance.
