FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT INFO. :
Office of the Mayor
Patricia Resende
(401) 529-3207
East Providence makes it illegal to operate off-road vehicles and snowmobiles
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The East Providence City Council has approved a new ordinance making the use of off-road vehicles and snowmobiles illegal to use on East Providence streets.
The Council, voted 5-0 in favor of the new ordinance, sponsored by Council President Robert Britto and signed into law today by Mayor Bob DaSilva.
“We are trying to jump out ahead of it in order to avoid the issues that other cities have had,” Council President Robert Britto said.
The ordinance, not only makes it unlawful for a person to operate a snowmobile or recreational off-road vehicle within city limits (except on private property 2.5 acres or greater and with permission of the owner), but it also enables East Providence Municipal Court to issue penalties. Police have the authority to impound any snowmobile or off-road vehicle found to be in violation of the ordinance. A civil penalty of $500 is enforced if the person does not own the vehicle, the owner did not know it was being used and it’s the first time the vehicle has been found to be in violation.
“We are hoping this ordinance, which is something we’ve never had before will give our law enforcement team the tools that they need,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “The position we will take is a zero tolerance approach starting today.”
The ordinance prohibits acts to elude police officers such as increasing speed, changing directions, turning off lights or taking other steps to avoid a police officer.
“The passage of this ordinance will keep the community safer by not having the officer engage in vehicle pursuits especially on the bike path, which endangers the public,” Chief William Nebus said.
The ordinance also states that all off-road vehicles must be registered with the Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management and that there will be no storing of unregistered snowmobile or off-road vehicles on public or private property.
Off-road vehicle, referenced in the ordinance, refer to a motorized or electronic vehicle designed to travel over unimproved terrain including, but not limited to, mini bikes, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and any other three- or four-wheel vehicles regardless of type or design and does NOT include golf mobiles, golf carts, riding lawn mowers or tractors.
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