New law will allow Paterson authorities to seize and destroy dirt bikes, ATVs. Here's why
PATERSON — The city will be able to confiscate and destroy dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles that are being operated illegally in Paterson, under an ordinance adopted by the council on Tuesday night.
The new law, which would take effect in mid-October, represents Paterson’s latest effort to combat recent safety problems stemming from people illegally driving the off-road vehicles on city streets, a growing problem that officials say has caused numerous collisions and injuries involving motorists and pedestrians.
During the summer, Paterson police seized about 20 dirt bikes and ATVs. But the owners of those vehicles were allowed to reclaim them, the same way someone would retrieve a car towed away for illegal parking.
But the new law will apply government forfeiture powers to the dirt bikes and ATVs, and owners will lose their property rights of such vehicles when they are operated illegally, similar to what happens when police take ownership of a car used in a drug crime.
Under the ordinance, dirt bikes are banned from city streets, sidewalks, parks and private property open to the public, like shopping center parking lots. Besides having their vehicles taken away, violators face $500 fines for a first offense and a maximum $2,000 penalty for a third infraction, according to the new law.
'It's scary':Dirt bikes and ATVs are new dangers for Paterson streets, city officials say
No residents spoke about the ordinance during Tuesday’s public hearing on the issue. Councilman Luis Velez said he would have little tolerance for people complaining about having their vehicles forfeited.
“Don’t call me if your bike is unregistered,” Velez said. “Don’t call me if you don’t have a license endorsed for a motor bike.”
The law was sponsored by Councilman Alex Mendez.
“This is what we need to give our police department the power to remove these bikes and take them off the streets,” Mendez said. “The enforcement piece is going to be the key to put the quality of life back into our neighborhoods.”
Lots of activities that are deemed illegal under the law are commonplace on some Paterson streets, such as drug dealing, public drinking and prostitution. The city’s public safety director, Jerry Speziale, said the police department would make enforcing the dirt bike ordinance a priority. Mayor Andre Sayegh has called the ATVs and dirt bikes “toys of terror.”
“It’s extremely dangerous,” Speziale said.
During the summer, the crackdown was spearhead by officers in Paterson’s narcotics division. Part of the reason for that was that state law forbid police officers in vehicles to chase after ATVs and dirt bikes. So, the narcotics officers conducted surveillance.
Speziale said that going forward the enforcement of the new law likely would be handled by multiple divisions within the police department, using both cops in marked law enforcement vehicles and officers in plainclothes.
Councilman Michael Jackson was the only member of the council who voted against the new law. Jackson said during Tuesday’s meeting that he had concerns about the provisions that would allow Paterson to take ownership of the vehicles.
Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Why Paterson NJ authorities can seize, destroy dirt bikes, ATVs
