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pa riders BEWARE

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#1 ·
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

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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.

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remember DONT STOP FOR ANYONE ! AND WRITE YOUR CONGRESS MAN ~~~~~~
 
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#3 ·
This isn't anything new. They have done this for years. I can remember them doing it in the Adrian area many, many years ago.

The moral of the story is don't ride where you don't have permission. It gives everyone a bad name.
 
#4 ·
Wow! I'm glad they don't care around here!

I live in the sticks(kinda) and I've ridden 27.3 miles on my old crf50, Ive ridden over 20 miles on my Rincon. Never an issue....well I take that back.

I've ridden wheelies(on crf50) by Sheriffs that were coming and I didn't feel like setting the wheel down(1+ mile long) and they just keep on going. One night I got done putting my street tires on my billet rims and was out. I rocked a wheelie from one end of my road to just before my driveway when I seen a blue and red flashing glare off of a mailbox I was passing. I put the wheel down and looked behind me and pulled in my drive and sat there. The officer came up to me as I was pulling my streetbike helmet off and he said "Jesus Christ you're a man, not a kid" :D Asked me for my ID and asked where I lived. I said we are in my driveway :D We talked for a couple minutes and he said "Be smarter about riding on the road" and I said " Like how? Don't ride wheelies on a clown bike when you aren't around?"

He said "Yes exactly" :rofl3::rofl3:

We've ridden to town 3 miles away 2 up on ATV's with plows on them and passed cops, talked to cops in parking lots of stores, and nothing. The understanding around here is if you aren't ripping up yards or blocking traffic and causing issues, then we aren't going to screw with the hassle of a ticket or stopping you.

However I was stopped right after I bought my Rincon for riding on the "road" but I wasn't. I was in between the white line and the telephone poles(public right of way for snowmobiles and other vehicles) I was stopped by the DNR and he was going to issue me a ticket if I wouldn't have told him I had a public right to be on that part of the "road" that I was on. Being DNR he should know this as he works at the local state riding area.


"If we aren't assholes let us ride"
 
#5 ·
That's stupid. Up here we usually get left alone. If we get chased, just take off. I don't ride on any marked property, I'd be pissed if someone was tearing up my land so I don't do it to other people. I ride on roads all the time and don't think twice about it. My brother lives just down the highway, sometimes there's too much snow to go in the ditch so I just take the black top.
 
#9 ·
Well... I'm in PA, and I'm kind of glad. It's the "Rouge" riders who cause the problems for the people who try to be legal.

I'm not happy that there is almost no public land in PA, but maybe stories like this will get the law makers involved, and give up somewhere legal to ride. (other than private clubs)
 
#10 ·
ROUGE !!!!!!!!!! 62 year old rouge riders !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
these are just old guys enjoying some ridin on land that is just woods ! not owned by privates but but the state !!! there are 50,000 acres of state owned land HERE and we are not allowed on any of it !!! they LOG IT ,MINE IT AND DRILL IT BUT WE CANT RIDE ON IT !!!!!!!
what a load of crap < and they wonder why we wont stop for them "
i have talked to the cops around here and they dont care if you ride anywhere most have quads and so on too ..... so why the GUESTOPO
TACTICS !!!!!!!!!

ALSO Fleer night vision dont work in the day time ~
and helacopters dont have that much fuel so why stop at all ? enjoy your ride and let then try to keep up
why not leagleize it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#11 ·
When they ride on private property without permission I love seeing them get busted. Off Roading is facing a tough road and we do not need idiots screwing things up. If there is not enough open riding get groups together and get your area politicians to help you get state and fed land open. Please do it the right way. But agian private property is just that, PRIVATE!
 
#15 · (Edited)
private property ! owned by the state , how is that ??
and there are NO RIDING AREAS IN PA ! just A COUPLE OF SHORT TRAILS BUT IF YOU OWN A BICYCLE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF RAILS TO TRAILS ???
THAT no ONE USES I KNOW I LIVE HERE .
ALSO THERE ARE WHAT WE CALL A-HOLES here they buy land dont live here dont pay taxes , and complain they are ridin on my property and want the state to stop it

the STATE POLICE NEED TO LOOK FOR LAW BREAKERS ! IE,, killers,rapists,drug dealers,crack dealers,junkies thiefs and on and on !! NOT ATV RIDERS
BUT ATV RIDERS ARE OLD GUYS AND EASY PICKIN THEY ARNT ARMED AND DONT HURT ANYONE !
:shhh: EVERYONE JUST GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ! AND LET THEM LOOK :rofl3:
AND arky HOPE YOU GET YOURS !



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?"
ROARING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD REALY LIKE A 10 YEAR OLD ON A MINIEBIKE !
AND RISKING DEATH TO ME --WTF-- LIKE THEY CARE ABOUT MY LIFE
 
#12 ·
RZR wrecker... FLIR will work during the day... We use it all the time on my aircraft. But I'm with you, as long as its not hurting anything they shouldn't waste tax payers money. Aviation fuel isn't cheap. Were they using ground atv units also? If not..just stop in the middle of no where and let the helo hover. Depending on the helo they prob have 3-4 hours of gas. I'm from that area, but haven't heard any issues where we ride.
 
#13 ·
i live in pa and there is almost no public land for riding! maybe instead of wasting money and time the state could open up more public land for riding. there are many trails for the sleds and even more land for the hunters. atv are not aloud on this land, which is not used in the offseasons. i pay a lot of money in taxes and this is what i get for it, more government waste.
 
#14 ·
A few years ago I wrote a letter to the PADCNR to request them to look into a H&M type setup like in WV. With all the vacant coal land sitting wasted why not turn it into something that would bring in some people that can enjoy it, spend some money and bring some life to dying communities.
I got the most nasty response stating that they want to reduce the land use to ATV's and how it's not what they care about. All I know is every two years I send my $20 to renew that sticker I need to use the land they don't want me on.
Joe
 
#16 ·
Wow, all i can say is that it really really crappy. I understand the private property of a person, and that person being mad over people
Riding on the land, but the state owns it and they wont let them ride. Here where im at there are several areas that are owned by coal companys who will gladly let you ride on their old strip mine jobs and reclaims. Thats why they reclaim and fix it after theyre done, so that people can enjoy it for many many generations and ao on. Im just glad that i dont live in PA or i would be getting in trouble alot wiff da fuzz!!!!!
 
#17 ·
Here on Long Island NY we get the same B.S. happening to us. We have thousands of acres out on the eastern end of LI and you cant "legally" ride on any of it. We have 2 motocross tracks and there is 1 place that you can pay to ride but its a tiny piece of land. I ride my plated KTM with a bunch of guys and we get hasseled all the time. You got hikers taking pictures of you, the DEC on atvs coming after you, its rediculous. I do alot of riding when its freezing outside in the winter months because thats when you run into the least amounts of people/problems. I do ride the RZR locally also because my buddys house is 5 min from some trails and sandpits so i trailer over to him and we leave from his driveway. Other then that i have to trailer upstate to my hunting club to have a true hassel free ride.
 
#18 ·
I had a guy walk up to me yesterday and told me i was on private property, i said sorry,he said i had 0ne of two choices,turn around or he will call the cops,no problem i will turn around. But now that i know that the fines are only 50 to 200 dollars if you get caught who freaking cares?? Im gonna ride where ever now, i respect property, i dont tear it up i just wanna ride, matter of fact im gonna take a ride to turkey hill for a cup of coffee.
 
#19 ·
lets see the psp spend a few thousand of our money to catch a hand full guys riding atvs! what a joke!i was born here in pa i can walk to the state game lands (hunting) i can drive to the sled trails in 5 min, however if i wana ride my rzr on the state trail system i have to drive 3 hours. pa just sucks, a lot of kids are killed on the roads here because the state does not have anywere to ride! i belong to a club however many kids just cant get there atv to the clubs. there are thousand arces of unused land that you cant ride on. we pay $10 a year they tell us this money is used for the state trail only atv pay this drit bike dont have to pay.however if you hunt you have all the land you need. the sleds have thousdand of miles of trails and you can hike on the state trails but us atv guys just pay for most of that and get shit for our money!
 
#20 ·
Guys, I remember a time when I was in high school, born and raised in PA, when we rode dirt bikes on the dirt roads owned by the state. This is before four wheelers, and three wheelers, actually. There was no DCNR then. We were on dirt roads, did not go onto privately owned land and did not hurt anyone or anything.

I, to this day, do not understand why we cannot run on snowmobile trails and the more remote state dirt roads. It makes no sense.
 
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