Dirt bike riders infuriate neighborhoods
Residents offer to find a legal place for them
By Joe Crankshaw
scripps treasure coast newspapers
Posted January 2 2007
The dirt bikes and four-wheeled, all-terrain vehicles that roar through the vacant sand dunes behind Terry Tillman's home in Jensen Beach annoy her and her neighbors.
In fact, she is so annoyed, she wants to help the riders find someplace nearby where they can ride legally -- without disturbing anyone. If no such place can be found, she wants to help build one.
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Tillman is trying to deal with a problem that is vexing government officials and law enforcement agencies across the state.
"These people are trespassing," Tillman said about the people who ride ATVs and dirt bikes. "They are a plague on our neighborhood."
The problem has persisted for years, and residents in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties have complained about noisy dirt bikes and ATVs.
Tillman said most of the riders are juveniles, and even if they get arrested, they are released to their parents.
Environmentalists complain the vehicles damage the environment. They make trails over sand dunes and through fields and woods, disturbing wildlife with their noise and habitat destruction. State legislators took note of the damage and specified that any lands purchased for a riding area for off-highway vehicles must have been heavily disturbed by earlier uses.
Meanwhile, the St. Lucie County Commission voted in December to opt out of another state law that allowed off-highway vehicles to be ridden on dirt roads in unincorporated areas of the county. The action came at the request of St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, who said he was concerned about the safety of the riders on the roads, particularly at night.
In Indian River County, Sheriff Roy Raymond is working with the County Commission to opt out of the same state law.
"Martin County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lt. Jennell Atlas said her department is not considering recommending the county opt out of the state law allowing ATVs on dirt roads. She said the county receives only sporadic complaints.
Most people involved with ATV and dirt bike riders agree that having a place where they can ride legally would help.
But when St. Lucie County Commissioners tried to establish an off-highway park at the St. Lucie County Airport in 2004, they abandoned the plan because of citizen protests and the potential costs and liabilities.
Still, Tillman said she in enthusiastic about the possibility of helping find land where the bikers can ride legally. She plans to speak to the local state legislative delegation at a Friday meeting in the Martin County Commission chambers in Stuart to ask for state assistance.
"I don't want to be someone who just complains," Tillman said. "I want the kids to have their fun, but I just want them to do it where they won't bother people."
Tillman also has recruited Winn Peeples, lobbyist for the Florida Motorcycle Dealers Association. The association represents merchants who sell motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and other recreational motor vehicles.
Peeples said it is possible there are already funds set aside for building riding trails and tracks in areas where there are not such facilities. The Office of Greenways and Trails in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, is involved in three projects that total $1.9 million. But none serve the Treasure Coast.
"The Off-Highway Advisory Committee oversees the funds and selects areas for motorsports parks, and it meets quarterly," Peeples said.
The idea of a special riding area for off-highway vehicles has real appeal to people who sell the machines. William Talero, operator of Moto Mania on Dixie Highway in Stuart, said he believes a park for off-highway vehicles would be a success.
"I would be glad to join in any effort to turn that into a reality," he said.
Joe Crankshaw can be reached at
joe.crankshaw@scripps.com Thanks to the Sun-Sentinel
