Fairbanks Police warn about dangers of riding ATVs, dirt bikes on roads

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) is cautioning parents and children about riding ATV’s and dirt bikes on public roads.

According to Deputy Chief Rick Sweet, FPD has been getting complaints about youth riding recklessly in residential areas.

Riding unregistered motor vehicles like ATVs on roads is illegal and could result in citations or the vehicles being impounded. Riders are allowed to cross over roads but not ride down them.

Sweet said police were able to contact some children and their parents, and talk to the about the dangers of riding on roads. He said they would prefer to educate about the rules rather than have to enforce them.

“There is a safety factor that they need to adhere to,” Sweet said. “Really those types of vehicles are for trail riding and that’s where they belong. From our standpoint we want to educate first. We have talked to parents and we have talked to kids or people that we have found on the devices that they are riding and just explained to them what it is.”

Sweet says that if the riding on roads continues, they will be forced to take enforcement action. He also encouraged anyone who sees someone riding on the road to report it to the police, who will try to talk to the person.

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