I have to make this statement so it is clear that I am not harassing our elected officials: The following is political commentary related to community damaging policies that need to be reversed for the betterment of "all CBRM". 

Also CBRM Recreation did not create the mess we have in District 9/10, CBRM Police Services did not create this mess and there's been lots good Active Transportation proponents in CBRM who deserve kudos irrespective of what the elected officials do. No disrespect intended towards any of these people or organizations here.

PREFACE: Two of the main ATV trail supporters are still in office in CBRM and are mentioned in this CB Post  article. The ATV trail created in District 9/10 has increased the number of illegal incidents of off-road vehicles on our streets and sidewalks. Mountains of video evidence shows a direct correlation. This project was never approved by council (I asked). This project needs to be reversed but in the meantime here is some news and commentary about CBRM's new ATVs policies in CBRM.

The whole state of Connecticut is spending millions of taxpayer dollars dealing with issues that the elected officials mentioned in this CB Post  article are creating in CBRM by creating ATV playgrounds in residential communities. You see in the video that Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Otoniel Reyes and Assistant Police Chief Karl Jacobson of New Haven working together to make a safer and better community in New Haven and creating ordinance in the best interest of the general population, not special interest groups. Key points from the video in the article directly below:

• Raise fines to $1000 - $2000
• Confiscate ATVs and dirt bikes
• Hold Gas Stations responsible and nail the ATV riders at gas stations where it is safe.
• Hold dealers responsible

New Dirt-Bike Law Includes $2K Tix....

by Thomas Breen | Aug 3, 2020 4:11 pm

New Haven Independent

Other recent ATV events in the USA, that could be coming our way....

State police searching for ATV, dirt bike riders accused of beating 82-year-old driver in Boston

Police Investigate Large Group of ATVs Riding Recklessly on West Hartford Streets

August 2, 2021 at 6:16 pm

NBCUniversal Media, LLC.

East Haven Police Department video of Saltonstall ATV/dirt bike incident (youtube video)

Jul 19, 2021

Hamden police: Drive-by shooting involved group on ATVs

July 13, 2020 6:45 p.m.

Pat Tomlinson

New Haven Register

Dirt Bikes in College Woods, May 3 (youtube video)

May 4, 2020

City of Hartford, PD crush seized ATVs, dirt bikes as part of ongoing enforcement efforts

We need CBRM Mayor, Council and Police Services to take this issue seriously instead of creating ATV playgrounds like New Haven was forced to:

PD Letterhead

June 17, 2020

New Haven Board of Alders

165 Church Street, 2^nd Floor

New Haven CT 06510

Re:  AMENDMENT OF NEW HAVEN GENERAL ORDINANCE ARTICL3 VI, SECTION 29-131, ET SEQ. REGARDING POCKET BIKES, MINI BIKES, DIRT BIKES, MOTORIZED BICYCLES, ETC. TO ADD ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES, AND INCREASE PENALTIES AS PERMITTED BY CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES SECTIONS 14-390 & 14-390m

Honorable Board of Alders:

On behalf of the New Haven Department of Police Service, I submit a proposed amendment to New Haven General Ordinances Article VI, Section 29-131, et seq., commonly referred to as the “dirt bike ordinance.”  The improper use of unregistered dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) on public streets has increased substantially throughout Connecticut during the last decade and the widespread illegal use of these vehicles in New Haven represents a growing health and safety hazard for residents and visitors.

In 2013 and 2016 the Connecticut General Assembly passed public acts 13-154, S.1 (2013) and 16-208, S.1 (2016), which enable municipalities to increase penalties for violations of local regulations governing the operation and use on public property of dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles.  The Acts increase the maximum penalties to $1,000 for a first violation, $1,500 for a second violation, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation.  These Acts also permit municipalities with a population of 20,000 or more to enact ordinances to provide for the seizure and forfeiture of dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles under certain circumstances.  The maximum penalties under the existing general ordinance is $99. 

The proposed ordinance also requires dealers to post the New Haven dirt bike ordinance in a prominent location at their place of business, and it prescribes a penalty to any owner or employee of a gas station that sells gasoline for use in dirt bikes or ATVs.  The new provisions in this proposed ordinance will permit the Department to better protect the safety of residents and visitors of New Haven by better regulating the use of dirt bikes and ATVs in town.  Thank you for your consideration of the vital amendment to the General Ordinances.

Very Truly Yours,

Karl Jacobson

Assistant Chief of Police