Town of North Hempstead bans ATVs

Stephen Romano
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth speaks at a previous town board meeting. (Photo by Noah Manskar)

The Town of North Hempstead on Tuesday passed a law banning the use of all-terrain vehicles on town properties.

The law, which was approved 7-0 by the Town Council, prohibits the use of ATVs, including motorized dirt bikes, and gives the police the authority to impound the vehicles.

“This is a very serious legislation on a topic that has become very important to us,” town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “Our goal for these strict regulations is to ensure that the vehicles stop causing damage to town property and the general safety and well-being of all of our town residents.”

The law in part is in response to a group of people riding ATVs on the trails of the wetlands in Port Washington across from North Hempstead Beach Park.

Residents brought this issue before the board at the April 4 meeting, as well as at the town’s North Hempstead Beach Park visioning session in Port Washington.

Ronald Rochester, a retired law enforcement official from Port Washington, said he has seen the group riding multiple times.

He also has seen the group lighting fires to cook food in the woods, he said.

Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio said the Committee to Create and Protect a Hempstead Harbor Nature Sanctuary sent the village a petition in support of the legislation.

“I’d like to thank the committee for being such a strong advocate for the law and for the entire community,” she said.

According to the law, if the police see someone riding an ATV on town property, they can confiscate the vehicle and impound it.

Under the town code, the owner can also receive a fine for a first offense that is no less than $500 and no more than $1,500. The subsequent fines increase.

Port Washington Police Chief James Salerno explained the towing process at the April 4 meeting, saying Chester’s Highway Garage in Port Washington would tow the vehicle.

The vehicle would then stay at Chester’s until the offender paid a fine.

However, if no fine is paid and the vehicle is abandoned at Chester’s, the garage would put a lien on it and it would be Chester’s property.

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