Apr 11, 2016 3 min read

Anyone caught riding an all-terrain vehicle or dirt bike on the roads patrolled by McDonald police or on the Panhandle or Montour trails should be prepared to pay some hefty fines as well as storage fees to a towing company.

Chief Mark Dorsey wants to get the word out to riders that his officers will be strictly enforcing the laws that pertain to off-road vehicles on the roads and the two trails. McDonald police patrol McDonald as well as Burgettstown, Midway, West Middletown and Independence and Robinson townships.

“We want to get out the word,” Dorsey said. “This is the time of year when the complaints escalate about all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes running rampant on the side streets and main roads.”

“We will be aggressively prosecuting anyone found in violation,” he added. “And we will seize the vehicle and have it towed.”

The price tag for the violation can be costly between the fines for the citations filed at the district judge’s office and the towing bill, Dorsey said.

“I think last year, we had someone who ended paying about $1,800 to $2,000,” Dorsey said.

“We won’t be giving out just one citation.”

Dorsey said ATVs and dirt bikes are not meant for riding on paved surfaces.

“The tires are not meant for the road,” he stated. “”Plus they don’t have the necessary lighting or turn signal equipment.

“That’s why we will always be handling accidents with them,” he added. “Some of them drive like they are invincible. The vehicles are just not designed to be ridden on public roads.”

Volunteers provide an extra set of eyes on the Montour Trail for McDonald police and officers in other jurisdictions along the 36 miles.

“These volunteers have gone through a criminal background check,” said Jesse Forquer, Montour Trail director of security. “We know we can rely on them.”

“We hope to keep the riders off the trail. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” he added. “The trail is meant for bikers, walkers and runners. Families with small children use it. The only time a vehicle should be on the trail is when we are doing maintenance.”

Dorsey said having an extra set of eyes on the trail is helpful.

“They report not only problems with ATVs, but other things that might happen along the trail,” he said. “If they spot problems or something unusual, they give us a call from their cellphones.”