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Southampton Town Police are among the agencies participating in ATV training offered by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office in Westhampton. COURTESY SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF
Southampton Town boasts hundreds of trails through scenic woodlands and along serene shorelines. But, bad actors on all terrain vehicles (ATVs) can kill and disturb wildlife, tear up vegetation, and cause erosion on the trails.
Riders trespassing on farmland and open space areas is also a cause for concern, and potential damage wrought by ATV riders who can flee responding police officers on foot or in vehicles too big to pursue.
Catching them just became easier.
Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff ATV instructors will be training police officers on the safe and proper operation of police ATVs. The training will consist of both classroom and hands-on riding and takes place in one day.
The sheriff’s office expects to train approximately 98 law enforcement officers. The students from the Southampton Town Police Department will join classmates from the sheriff’s office, the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Park Rangers, United States Parks Police, New York State Troopers, the Riverhead Police Department, West Hampton Dunes Constables, Smithtown Park Rangers, and Smithtown Fire Marshals at training grounds located at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton.
Said Town Police Chief James Kiernan, “There are no places in the town to ride ATVs legally unless you are on private property with written permission from the property owner on your person. The STPD teams up with several area agencies to answer the many complaints regarding ATVs. We impound machines and ticket riders or parents of riders. These impounds can be expensive. Residents should know that ATVs are prohibited on all public lands in Southampton. Please comply and enjoy your riding experience elsewhere.
“I’m glad for the enhanced enforcement opportunity this training provides,” he concluded.
