NILES — The breaking point for local police chiefs was when all-terrain vehicle riders, who already were drag racing up Robbins Avenue and throwing stones at locomotive engineers, started threatening railroad employees who had the right to be on railroad property where ATV trails have popped up.
“That really was the last straw,” Niles police Chief Bruce Simeone said. “That and the belligerence we’re starting to see toward police from the people who are riding illegally.’’
That frustration, he said, jump-started the ATV task force created by Niles, Girard and Weathersfield.
The first patrol of the task force went out Saturday, with 10 officers from the three departments taking to the streets and off-road areas in cruisers, on ATVs and on foot to try to deal with problem riders.
“I think we sent a message to the recreational riders that they need permission to ride on private property, and they need to follow Ohio laws,” Weathersfield police Chief Joseph Consiglio said.
Five riders were cited and their vehicles towed from Saturday’s sting, Simeone said.
The area concentrated on included railroad-owned property in McKinley Heights, where riders threatened a railroad employee trimming trees along the illegal trails in the Woodland Avenue area. Consiglio said railroad locomotive engineers reported having stones thrown at them while they were working, and vandalism and property damage from the off-road vehicles was reported all through the area.
“Once we got out there, activity quickly dried up,” Simeone said.
Simeone said riders must be on their own property or must have the property owner’s permission to ride an ATV. If parents let underage children ride ATVs, Simeone said, parents can be cited.
“We will be back out there, and it will be at a random time and place,” Simeone said.
Girard Mayor James Melfi said ATV riders have been a problem in the Leatherworks area and Tod Park.
‘‘With these actions, we want our residents to know that they should report when they see ATV riders driving through private their private properties or even public areas,’’ Melfi said. ‘‘While often, they may be gone by the time police arrive at the scene, when we catch them, the riders will know they will be prosecuted.’’
Melfi said residents should feel safe and some of ATV drivers disregard the safety of residents when they are driving.
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