New York Police Impound ATVs In Response To Noise Complaints
PUBLICATION: Newsday
DATE: December 22, 1997
SECTION: News; Page A26
BYLINE: Errol A. Cockfield Jr.
DATELINE: Suffolk County New York
Newsday reports that reacting to noise complaints from residents and civic groups, police in Suffolk County New York took to the woods of Shoreham Saturday and impounded 10 all-terrain vehicles.
According to the article, police issued summonses to eight people for operating ATVs on private property without authorization in violation of a Brookhaven Town ordinance. Two minors, who accompanied their father, were not issued summonses. The summonses may result in fines of $100 to $500. In addition, it will cost the owners $120 to recover the vehicles. The ATVs, which usually have three or four wheels and are more commonly known as quads, have become popular in recent years. But at the same time, riders complain there are no public areas on Long Island where they can legally ride. Rising interest and limited recreational space have led to confrontations between riders, neighbors, police and municipal officials.
The article says one rider says he will sell his all terrain vehicle. "That's why I'm never riding again. I'm selling it," said Scott Marchasin, who was issued a summons Saturday, and only began riding a month ago. "I was having a real good time until the end of the day." Marchasin said he is planning to sell his ATV, which he purchased recently for $6,500. The summons he received was his second in as many weeks, he said.
According to the article, on Saturday, the Sixth Precinct's Community Oriented Police Enforcement unit conducted a sweep in the area near the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant. The vehicles were taken to a Brookhaven Town impound yard. Marchasin, 27, of Port Jefferson, Ralph Vilonna, 46, of Valley Stream, Thomas Friscia, 27, of Coram, Kevin Thumudo, 32, of Centereach, and George Buttuor, 27, of Dix Hills were all issued summonses. Three Deer Park men, William Mott, 20, Scott Hagemo, 20, and Steven Castellano, 20, were also issued summonses. All are scheduled for a court hearing on Jan. 15. Vilonna, who had traveled to Shoreham to ride with his two sons, said he also plans to give up the hobby after Saturday's incident. He said authorities are being too harsh and singling out ATV riders. They wouldn't impound a bicycle, he said. "They're being very prejudiced against us," Vilonna said, adding that the cost to get three ATVs out of the impound yard before the holidays will hit his pocket hard. "It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth."
The report says in Brookhaven, riders also have taken to public land, including the environmentally sensitive pine barrens. In 1994, the town impounded 74 ATVs. In 1995, that figure nearly doubled to 126. Last year, the town impounded 123 ATVs. Town officials could not be reached for 1997 figures.