Kudos to state police for using chopper to snare rogue ATV riders
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
We love it.
"It" is a news story from our sister newspaper, the Leader-Vindicator of New Bethlehem, published Monday.
"Eighteen people were apprehended for driving on roads and riding on private property without permission," police said.
They were driving all-terrain vehicles.
State police used a helicopter to locate - and track - the ATV miscreants, and then ground units moved into position to stop them, thereby negating the ATVs' traditional ability to evade police.
A helicopter can chase ATVs until they run out of gas or just give up, according to PSP Lt. Thomas E. Dubovi.
We suspect officials in the Treasure Lake private gated community near DuBois, which has had problems with ATV riders, will also applaud, and perhaps consider a variant of the tactics, with the cooperation of local or state police.
Now, is using a state police helicopter just to catch a few people having fun on ATVs a case of overkill?
We think not - because of the last part of that word: "Kill." That's what has happened to people riding ATVs on area roads in this area during the past few years, with far more frequency than is acceptable.
Some of those people are young people - but half of those charged were not. Those charged included people aged 66, 62, 59, 57, 54, 47, 44 and 38.
"Freedom" is a big byword with many of these people, as in "free to ride where they want."
But what happened to another concept of "freedom," as in "free to not have other people tearing up my property" or "free to not have other people roaring up and down the road, raising Cain and risking death or injury to themselves and to me and mine?"
The "Where are we supposed to ride?" complaint begs another question: "Why did you buy it if you don't have a legal, safe place to ride it?"
Now, we're not unreasonable. We think it would be overkill if the PSP set up these kinds of operations to slap substantial fines on someone using an ATV to ride to the mailbox or journey along a very visible stretch of road at putt-putt speed in broad daylight in order to visit a neighbor. There ought to be clear danger to public safety or clear disturbance of the peace or private property rights, not just the potential for same, before citations are issued.
But that's why we have elected district judges instead of computerized robots deciding these cases, to distinguish between law enforcement that is needed and reasonable, and nit-picking overenforcement.
We're delighted that state police are using this innovative procedure to catch people who break the laws.
- Denny Bonavita
next
Helicopter aids in ATV crackdown
Monday, March 26, 2012
Several all-terrain vehicle operators, including some from Clarion County, face traffic and game law violations following a joint operation between the state police and Game Commission wildlife conservation officers in northern Armstrong County March 17.
Eighteen people were apprehended for driving on roads and riding on private property without permission, police said.
The operation took place along various roads within Redbank, Wayne, Mahoning, Cowanshannock, Rayburn and Valley townships between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
A helicopter from the State Police Aviation Unit at Latrobe located the violators from the air and ground units moved into position to stop them.
"We've been receiving a lot of complaints from landowners in that quadrant of the county and we decided to deal with the situation," state police Lt. Thomas E. Dubovi said.
Dubovi said a similar tactic was used several years ago during a crackdown on game violations in the East Brady area.
"We're planning on using it again in the near future," Dubovi said.
Those charged include
Jimmie L. Troup, 59, Mayport.
Jimmy Lee Radaker, 47, New Bethlehem.
Randy B. Graham, 57, Clarington.
Barry Alan Radaker, 38, Hickory.
Chester John Fisher Jr., 62, Rural Valley.
Jeffrey A. Snyder, 44, New Bethlehem.
Ronald C. Radaker, 62, Clarion.
L. Radaker, 66, Fairmount City.
Patrick David Walter, 18, New Bethlehem.
Nicolas Reese Schreckengost, 18, New Bethlehem.
Terry Lee Bish, 54, Fairmount City.
Branden Chase Bowser, 18, New Bethlehem.
Dennis Crissman, 62, Dayton.
In addition, two 15-year-old boys from New Bethlehem and two 14-year-old boys from Kittanning were also cited.
"People try to outrun us on the ground in these situations," Dubovi said. "But a helicopter can chase them until they run out of gas or just give up."
The ATV riders face charges including riding on the road and operating without proof of insurance. The fines for those offenses range from $50 to $200 plus court costs.
"People riding ATVs and other motorized vehicles like these seem to think they can ride wherever they want to, "Dubovi said. "They have to realize they have to ask property owners permission before riding on their land, and to stay off the roads and trails."
ATVs are allowed to use public highways and streets when its necessary to cross a bridge, culvert or roadway, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
ATV riders can only operate legally on trails clearly marked for their use, the site says.
Operators must be 16 years of age or older.
Municipalities can also further regulate or ban the use of ATVs under local ordinances, the DCNR site says.
q q q
By Susan L. Kerr, Leader-Vindicator staff writer.
:rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown:
remember DONT STOP FOR ANYONE ! AND WRITE YOUR CONGRESS MAN ~~~~~~
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
We love it.
"It" is a news story from our sister newspaper, the Leader-Vindicator of New Bethlehem, published Monday.
"Eighteen people were apprehended for driving on roads and riding on private property without permission," police said.
They were driving all-terrain vehicles.
State police used a helicopter to locate - and track - the ATV miscreants, and then ground units moved into position to stop them, thereby negating the ATVs' traditional ability to evade police.
A helicopter can chase ATVs until they run out of gas or just give up, according to PSP Lt. Thomas E. Dubovi.
We suspect officials in the Treasure Lake private gated community near DuBois, which has had problems with ATV riders, will also applaud, and perhaps consider a variant of the tactics, with the cooperation of local or state police.
Now, is using a state police helicopter just to catch a few people having fun on ATVs a case of overkill?
We think not - because of the last part of that word: "Kill." That's what has happened to people riding ATVs on area roads in this area during the past few years, with far more frequency than is acceptable.
Some of those people are young people - but half of those charged were not. Those charged included people aged 66, 62, 59, 57, 54, 47, 44 and 38.
"Freedom" is a big byword with many of these people, as in "free to ride where they want."
But what happened to another concept of "freedom," as in "free to not have other people tearing up my property" or "free to not have other people roaring up and down the road, raising Cain and risking death or injury to themselves and to me and mine?"
The "Where are we supposed to ride?" complaint begs another question: "Why did you buy it if you don't have a legal, safe place to ride it?"
Now, we're not unreasonable. We think it would be overkill if the PSP set up these kinds of operations to slap substantial fines on someone using an ATV to ride to the mailbox or journey along a very visible stretch of road at putt-putt speed in broad daylight in order to visit a neighbor. There ought to be clear danger to public safety or clear disturbance of the peace or private property rights, not just the potential for same, before citations are issued.
But that's why we have elected district judges instead of computerized robots deciding these cases, to distinguish between law enforcement that is needed and reasonable, and nit-picking overenforcement.
We're delighted that state police are using this innovative procedure to catch people who break the laws.
- Denny Bonavita
next
Helicopter aids in ATV crackdown
Monday, March 26, 2012
Several all-terrain vehicle operators, including some from Clarion County, face traffic and game law violations following a joint operation between the state police and Game Commission wildlife conservation officers in northern Armstrong County March 17.
Eighteen people were apprehended for driving on roads and riding on private property without permission, police said.
The operation took place along various roads within Redbank, Wayne, Mahoning, Cowanshannock, Rayburn and Valley townships between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
A helicopter from the State Police Aviation Unit at Latrobe located the violators from the air and ground units moved into position to stop them.
"We've been receiving a lot of complaints from landowners in that quadrant of the county and we decided to deal with the situation," state police Lt. Thomas E. Dubovi said.
Dubovi said a similar tactic was used several years ago during a crackdown on game violations in the East Brady area.
"We're planning on using it again in the near future," Dubovi said.
Those charged include
Jimmie L. Troup, 59, Mayport.
Jimmy Lee Radaker, 47, New Bethlehem.
Randy B. Graham, 57, Clarington.
Barry Alan Radaker, 38, Hickory.
Chester John Fisher Jr., 62, Rural Valley.
Jeffrey A. Snyder, 44, New Bethlehem.
Ronald C. Radaker, 62, Clarion.
L. Radaker, 66, Fairmount City.
Patrick David Walter, 18, New Bethlehem.
Nicolas Reese Schreckengost, 18, New Bethlehem.
Terry Lee Bish, 54, Fairmount City.
Branden Chase Bowser, 18, New Bethlehem.
Dennis Crissman, 62, Dayton.
In addition, two 15-year-old boys from New Bethlehem and two 14-year-old boys from Kittanning were also cited.
"People try to outrun us on the ground in these situations," Dubovi said. "But a helicopter can chase them until they run out of gas or just give up."
The ATV riders face charges including riding on the road and operating without proof of insurance. The fines for those offenses range from $50 to $200 plus court costs.
"People riding ATVs and other motorized vehicles like these seem to think they can ride wherever they want to, "Dubovi said. "They have to realize they have to ask property owners permission before riding on their land, and to stay off the roads and trails."
ATVs are allowed to use public highways and streets when its necessary to cross a bridge, culvert or roadway, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
ATV riders can only operate legally on trails clearly marked for their use, the site says.
Operators must be 16 years of age or older.
Municipalities can also further regulate or ban the use of ATVs under local ordinances, the DCNR site says.
q q q
By Susan L. Kerr, Leader-Vindicator staff writer.
:rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown::rm_thumbdown:
remember DONT STOP FOR ANYONE ! AND WRITE YOUR CONGRESS MAN ~~~~~~