ATV death
has locals asking
for age limits and penalties
By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — You would think
that the death recently of an 8-year-old on an ATV would send the message
that these vehicles may
be dangerous.
But apparently not.
Councilor Mary Ann Armijo said at Tuesday's council session that she
has been getting complaints that young children on ATVs are still speeding
up and down
Vandenbosch and this has caused a concern from families on the street.
The issue became news on May 17 when police reported that Dustin Louchard died
when he lost control of his off-road vehicle, hit a speed bump and sailed head
first into a brick mailbox in front of a home on Vandenbosch.
The family who lives in that home, said Armijo, had called her and wanted to
know if there was something the city could do to stop other children from traveling
on that street at high speeds in their ATVs.
Apparently, there is nothing the city can do except ask for more police patrols.
City Attorney George Kozeliski said that city laws currently prohibit the use
of ATVs on city roads except to cross from one side to the other. Using the roads
for travel is not allowed, he said.
Because police can't patrol the roads constantly, Armijo said some of the residents
suggested that they could start taking photos of the offenders and turning them
over to police for prosecution.
"That won't do any good," Kozeliski said. "Police have to actually
see the law being broken before they can issue a citation."
Councilor Bill Nechero asked if the city has any laws that set age limits on
those who drive ATVs or whether there are any prohibitions about what kind of
mailboxes can be built. Kozeliski said no to each question.
He said the city could impose new laws that would provide stiffer sanctions on
those who use the ATVs recklessly or set age limits.
He suggested that the penalties for violation could go from just informing the
parents on the first violation to confiscating the ATV on the third violation. |
Wednesday
May 26, 2004
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death has locals asking for age limits and penalties
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Deaths |
