ATV Riding Laws – DC

Unlike most states, Washington, D.C., does not have laws or an agency that regulates the use of ATVs. It has seen the fewest deaths related to all-terrain vehicle accidents over the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s reporting period of 1982 to 2015, with just 6 fatalities.

However, the District of Columbia has seen its share of complaints regarding the use of such vehicles on city streets. Police often choose not to chase down reckless drivers, as a pursuit could cause harm to other drivers and bystanders. Arrests are being made where riders stop, such as at gas stations and alleyways. The Washington Times reported 147 arrests were made between January 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015, with 33 of them eventually being found guilty. None faced jail time, and the D.C. Council reduced the illegal riding fine to $250 in 2013, from a previous maximum of $1,000.

Police Crackdowns on Illegal ATV Riders

The lack of legislation to enforce on riders is not stopping the police department from looking into ways to manage the problem. As all-terrain vehicle drivers weave their way through streets and traffic, officers may position themselves ahead to warn other drivers and crowds. Police are also weighing the use of helicopters to combat the problem from the air.

Another tool police are using is video. Security camera and smartphone video footage help identify suspects and make arrests. Overall, patrols have stepped up as the warm weather has set in, and more ATV riders have taken to the streets.

In 2016, D.C. police faced the ATV and dirt bike problem with a massive crackdown, releasing surveillance images of 245 people. They had even offered a $250 reward to anyone who could provide tips that would help catch reckless drivers. The incidents around the city warranted such action. In one case, up to 30 all-terrain vehicles blocked an ambulance, with a sick child inside, because a rider believed the vehicle cut him off. Another time, an ATV pack traveled in the wrong direction across a Potomac River bridge, and still another incident involved police seeking a number of joy riders who violated traffic laws in a chaotic raid through the National Harbor area.

In July 2017, police destroyed 62 illegal off-road vehicles that were confiscated. According to Washington’s Top News, police had seized vehicles that were used by criminals or abandoned. These also were not registered or remained unclaimed after taken off the streets. The confiscated vehicles were crushed, yielding a reserve of recyclable metal totaling 14,180 pounds.

Despite a lack of ATV laws, D.C. police are doing what they can to crack down on reckless drivers while best assuring the safety of the public, including drivers and pedestrians.