Crackdown on ‘reckless operation’ of ATVs, dirt bikes coming to Dayton with newly-passed ordinance

DAYTON — The City of Dayton is cracking down on illegal ATVs and dirt bikes.

Dayton City Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance labeling riding non-street legal vehicles on city streets as “reckless operation.”

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This is because there are times when groups of riders, as large as 50 to 100 vehicles, basically ignore safety and traffic laws. One of those groups passed at Shoup Mill Road and North Main Street last Labor Day weekend. Another one in 2021 led to a dangerous arrest.

Assistant Police Chief Eric Henderson said the city took a step to show how serious this activity is to stop with the passing of the ordinance.

As we showed you on News Center 7 at 5:00, even if riders are registered and have license plates, they are often still being ridden in illegal manners.

One Dayton bike posted a video to social media of last Labor Day’s ride. It showed a huge pack of riders running red lights, doing wheelies, and riding boldly in the wrong lanes of traffic.

“It highlights to our community (that) this is illegal. If you see this activity, report it to us,” Henderson said.

The ordinance was passed as an emergency ordinance, meaning it goes into place immediately.

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