Lieutenant Dennis Barnett of the Maybrook Police Department shared a report during the village’s February 26 meeting addressing recent complaints of ATVs and motorcycles driving through local streets, noting that the department has dealt with most of the drivers.

Originally an issue eight years ago, the village saw a surge in ATV activity a few months ago, involving adolescents driving through Homestead Avenue, Tower Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and private properties. The driving has created noise disturbance in the village but also safety hazards for both the drivers and residents. Lieutenant Barnett stated that his department recently confronted seven of the drivers and reached out to their parents on the matter.

“The officers basically solved the major crux of the case, it was about seven juveniles so far. Can’t say the names obviously, but all their parents were contacted,” he said. “All the individuals and their parents were told that the proper law took effect.”

“The parents were advised If their kids are caught in the Village of Maybrook, they will be given summonses as well as them, and their ATV or motorcycle will be towed,” he continued.

Barnett then explained that the police department can ticket a juvenile for driving on an ATV or motorcycle on a state road, per New York State and the Town of Montgomery’s law.

“You cannot charge a juvenile with a violation crime or a traffic summons. The legislature is seeing the influx of all our cities with people riding ATVs and motorcycles, so they changed the law,” he explained. “And now they make parents kind of like the alcohol law, that if you have a party, you can charge the parent.”

Barnett mentioned that private properties still prove difficult for the police department, as officers cannot patrol these properties for ATV activity without permission from the owners. Barnett used ATV activity near Galaxy Montgomery Rail Yard as an example.

“It’s owned by a private company. The company doesn’t want people there. I can’t patrol Galaxy’s property unless I’m granted access,” he said. “I’ve reached out to them again and we will be doing another detail at some point.”