Dirt Biking Now Costs $1,000, Not $99

People caught whipping through neighborhoods on illegal dirt bikes will now face fines 10 times higher than before.

That’s thanks to a unanimous vote of approval Monday night by the Board of Aldermen.

Lawmakers voted to amend city ordinances to crack down on illegal dirt biking in New Haven. Aldermen created the city law to take advantage of a new state law that allows municipalities to keep a tighter rein on dirt biking.

Both laws are the result of several years of effort by neighbors and elected officials working to deal with the problem of illegal dirt-biking. Each summer, teens and young men tear through the city on ATVs and dirt-bikes that are not street legal. Neighbors have long complained about the noise, the nuisance, and danger involved.

The new city law includes dirt bikes in ordinances dealing with vehicles prohibited on public property, requires a property owner’s written permission for dirt bike use on private land, specifically prohibits operating or riding as a passenger on dirt bikes, and raises the penalty from a maximum of $99 to $1,000 for the first offense, $1,500 for the second, and $2,000 for subsequent offenses.

Alderwoman Jessica Holmes (pictured), chair of the Legislation Committee, saluted board President Alderman Jorge Perez and East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker for their leadership on the issue.

Elicker thanked Perez and Democratic Majority Leader Alderman Al Paolillo for working with him on the problem. He said it was an example of a seeming intractable problem that can be addressed when people ​“put their heads together” and come up with a ​“creative solution.”