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Speeding ATVs disrupt neighborhood peace
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - July 02, 2009)
Speeding ATVs disrupt neighborhood peace
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Munson Township officials will send a "friendly" reminder to two neighborhoods, asking that neighbors be more considerate of each other.
The letter was prompted by complaints from residents living along Rosetta Drive and Country Oaks Trail about all-terrain vehicles racing along their streets.
A letter from the Rosetta Homeowners Association described the situation there. "We have had several problems with speed on our street, ATVs and motorcycles using our street as a raceway," the letter said. "We have posted our common property at the end of Rosetta Drive, trying to keep ATVs out. Now, they are using the street for their speed runs."
The letter said the neighborhood's concern is for the children who live there, as well as senior citizens with health problems.
Residents also asked that the speed limit there be reduced from 45 mph to 25 mph.
"We are relying on the Munson Trustees to help our residents with this issue before someone is injured," the letter said.
Township Trustee Irene McMullen said residents along Country Oaks Trail reported similar problems there, although the complaints were limited to ATVs.
Mrs. McMullen said both of the streets are "relatively quiet" ones that apparently have been disturbed by teens driving ATVs along the roadways. Usually, she said, the complaints focus on the speed of the ATVs and motorcycles travelling on the roads. Noise also has been raised as an issue, she said, particularly when the racing is done at night.
She said one resident is expected to attend the trustees' next meeting on July 7.
"Our hope is that people will stop and think for a moment before acting," she said. "We want them to take their neighbor's wishes into consideration and everybody will get along."
She said she understands that when the warmer weather comes, teens will search out fun and ATVs may be part of that fun. She said ATVs can provide a healthy release of energy for youth. "It gets them outside and teaches them responsibility," she said. But that fun also comes with a responsibility toward others, she said.
Mrs. McMullen said she hopes the letter will be a "gentle prod" in bringing neighborhoods together, rather than seeing divisions which now appear to be taking place.
Lt. John Hiscox, of the Geauga County Sheriff's Department, said the behavior being described by residents is illegal. He said ATVs are prohibited from using public roads. But while it may be illegal for an ATV to cross a public road, he said, police do not usually cite someone for the infraction.
While the law applies to public roadways, Mr. Hiscox said, it is a different story on private streets.
He said those living along private streets can make their own rules. If they wish to permit ATVs on their roadways, police do not have jurisdiction in those cases.
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