Authorities are ramping up enforcement of an existing policy to demonstrate that Big Island roads are meant for permitted vehicles only.
The Hawai‘i Police Department is warning the public that officers will issue citations to anyone who operates a dirt bike or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on any public road on Hawai‘i Island. This includes state and county roads, as well as private roads open to the public. Police have identified areas they will be regularly patrolling.
ATVs should not be used on public beaches or on private lands without the landowner’s permission.
All drivers must be licensed and all motor vehicles must be properly registered to travel in the roadways in Hawaiʻi County. If officers observe those violations, they will stop and issue traffic citations to anyone not following the traffic laws. Persons operating an ATV on a public road or highway are subject to a number of citations, including no valid license plates, no safety check, no weight tax sticker, and no no-fault insurance. If certain traffic violations are observed the vehicles may be impounded or towed from the scene.
Regardless of the vehicle type, operating it recklessly is dangerous and a violation. Responsible adults must assure that motorcycles and ATVs are only operated where it is legal and, most of all, safe. All riders need to wear protective equipment, like a helmet. It only takes one crash to alter many lives forever.
If you observe a dirt bike motorcycle or ATV traveling illegally on the roadway, call (808) 935-3311. Providing a license plate, description of the vehicle and driver, the road they are on, and the direction of travel will assist the Hawai‘i Police Department in efforts to locate them.
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