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Off-Road Riders Fined while Riding on their Own Property:
Four teens in Hampden, Massachusetts, were fined $750 each by the Massachusetts Environmental Police while riding on their own property. The teens were riding on land owned by the parents of one of the boys, with the parents' permission, when the environmental police arrived and questioned them for two and a half hours. In the end, each teen received a $250 fine for operating an unregistered recreational vehicle, and a $500 fine for the operation of a recreational vehicle without a safety certification.
Speaking to 22News, Melanie Beck said her son and three friends were riding around her wooded yard, with her permission, when Massachusetts Environmental Police arrived and questioned the boys before handing out the fines. Beck wondered why the boys were not given a warning instead of a fine, considering the laws that they broke are apparently not well known in the area. She says other parents in the area have taken to social media to express their displeasure with the fines.
One of the teens told 22News that they were just trying to have fun, in contrast to other teens "doing drugs and vaping" instead of participating in outdoor activities.
A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Craig Gilvarg, told 22News that safety education requirements for young riders have been in place since 2010. Additionally, the state of Massachusetts requires all recreational vehicles operated on public and private lands to be registered through the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Earlier in February, 22News reported that ATV and dirt bike riders riding on city streets have been an ongoing issue in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, saying that they had received multiple viewer complaints about the illegal activity. Police there have used undercover cars, motorcycles, and cameras to attempt to stop the problem, and have asked the public to keep an eye out for where the riders might be storing their vehicles.
See also: Four teens fined $750 for violating dirt bike laws in Hampden; What are the rules?
Environmental police? Huh? They're just jealous because they can't get it up, let alone up on two!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday March 23 2020, @08:06PM (1 child)
If you mean "park rangers" then it would seem so. Although these apparently also have have jurisdiction over private land and enforce laws that no one else has heard of.
My cousin in WI would let his 13 and 14 year old sons drive their unregistered, uninsured old "junker" pickup around the farm to help take care of the place. Used to be that what you did on your own property was your business as long as it didn't harm anyone else, annoy the neighbors or create a provable hazard to the surrounding area.
brings to mind;
"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws." -- Ayn Rand
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday March 23 2020, @09:29PM
I got a speeding ticket once from a park ranger once. So enforcement is definitely in their wheelhouse.
I believe I was still inside the park, though.