View Full Version : I Hate Snowmobiles And Atvs On Roadways
Something has to be done about ATVs and snowmobiles running around town. I saw no less than 6 ATVs, all different, and 1 snowmobile go down Main st S. Meriden last night. Up and down the roads they went. Two of them went racing together down one of the side streets.
Seems these idiots don't know the law. And don't give me that crap about they have no where else to ride. The law is the law.
If something is not done about these idiots, someone is going to run one of them down with their car and since they are an illegal vehicle it'll be "Boo hoo, so sorry!" That's the law.
And the other thing that irks me is that the snow police can get their asses out there and enforce that law, but I didn't see one police officer last night at all.
The police department has a couple ATV's they could use for this type of enforcement, but it may not be worth the risk. The same dumb ass who is blasting by your house will probably sue the cop for chasing him. God forbid the moron gets hurt, because he'll win the suit. It's a no-win situation. (unless the moron crashes all by himself--then it's kharma!)
If a car were to run the ATV over there is no legal recourse for the ATV.
Do you really think an ambulance-chasing attorney won't figure out a way to sue? Just because they have no right to be on the road, doesn't mean they have no recourse. I was in a car accident with someone with a suspended license, no insurance, and an unregistered car. Clearly, he had no right to be on the road. He still sued, and the insurance company settled. Go figure!
I agree. People can sue for things that are their own fault. Like the infamous hot coffee on the crotch incident involving a fast food joint.
However, in the example you mention a suspended license driver, an unregistered car and no insurance. These do not fall under what the law would recognize as culpable or contributory negligence.
The driver knows how to drive even if the license is suspended, the driver has the knowledge since he once passed the drivers test. Whether the car was registered or not the car still would be the same car, so the outcome would not have changed, and not having insurance does not contribute to the accident. You do not give any other details so we do not know of any breach of duty to care and any direct harm caused by and on the part of the uninsured.
In no way am I advocating a deliberate act taken upon an ATV driver as recourse. I am speaking of an accident caused by willful negligence on the part of the ATV driver.
In the case of the ATV or for that matter, even a drunken driver, there is contributory negligence in that the ATV contributed to the accident by not having proper safety lighting, not being the correct size for the roadway, speeding, not following traffic rules, driving erratically and recklessly, etc. etc. etc. For a drunken driver that was obviously impaired that too is negligence. Their direct acts directly contributed to the outcome and injury.
In a negligent tort, plaintiff must prove a duty to care on the part of the defendant. Plaintiff must also prove that there was a breach of that duty by the defendant and that the breach was the direct cause of direct harm to the plaintiff.
For ATVs, as mentioned, they are usually driving erratically, recklessly, and without proper safety lighting, not being of the proper safe size, and not being correctly visible.
If you notice the police ATVs, they are well lit, following traffic laws including those for emergency vehicles, and are not driving recklessly. Police ATVs are exempt from traffic law which common ATVs are not, but police ATVs also must take reasonable care to prevent harm coming to others the same as any other person. Police are not exempted from their duty to care under common tort law.
Most of the teenage drivers on ATVs do none of those things, as I have said. They are contributing directly to the harm of others through direct breach of care while using their ATVs.
The fact that ATVs are illegal on the roadway is not what this case rests upon. The case rests upon a willful act causing harm to others in which the perpetrator knew of their duty to care and failed to uphold that duty. Its the recklessness that certain ATV riders perpetrate which is the crux of the matter.
I've seen people drive their lawn tractors briefly onto the road while mowing their lawn. A car cannot run them deliberately and if the mower was hit, there would be joint liability most likely.
Eastside Bill
12-23-2007, 03:18 PM
Something has to be done about ATVs and snowmobiles running around town. I saw no less than 6 ATVs, all different, and 1 snowmobile go down Main st S. Meriden last night. Up and down the roads they went. Two of them went racing together down one of the side streets.
Seems these idiots don't know the law. And don't give me that crap about they have no where else to ride. The law is the law.
Let's not forget the ATVs that illegally ride the trails in our parks. The law may be the law but enforcement is what is needed.
Golden Gooch
12-26-2007, 11:58 PM
What does "Non mea voluntas, sed tua fiat " mean ?
Man in the Middle
12-27-2007, 11:00 AM
What does "Non mea voluntas, sed tua fiat " mean ?
From Luke 22:42: "Not my will, but thine, be done."
Golden Gooch
12-27-2007, 01:13 PM
Thank You . Happy 2008 .
BINGO!
Give that man a cigar!
Si vis pacem, para bellum. Et qui non habet vendat tunicam suam et emat gladium.
Man in the Middle
12-28-2007, 10:02 AM
BINGO!
Give that man a cigar!
Si vis pacem, para bellum. Et qui non habet vendat tunicam suam et emat gladium.
"If you seek peace, prepare for war." Source unknown, but often attributed to Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus.
"And he that hath not, sell his coat and buy a sword." Luke 22:36.
Good job !
Now what does it mean? Hmmm...
atvrider
05-15-2011, 12:33 AM
so let me ask you a question did one of those atvs hit you? your car? did you almost Hit them? oh i get it they went through your yard and damaged your property right??? hmmm perhaps your just a moron that likes to complain about anything and everything huh? poor wittle guy oww so sad that he has to see them mean ole atv riders boo hoo !!!! shut the h#@! up you reject your just one of those poor little upstanding members of the community that would like nothing better than to see someone seriously hurt or killed you punk they arent hurting you stop CRYING
atvrider
05-15-2011, 12:36 AM
Its funny you like to quote the bible and then get on here and say things like oh boo hoo so sorry there you go revered show people the love of christ right
Just Curious
05-15-2011, 10:07 AM
so let me ask you a question did one of those atvs hit you? your car? did you almost Hit them? oh i get it they went through your yard and damaged your property right??? hmmm perhaps your just a moron that likes to complain about anything and everything huh? poor wittle guy oww so sad that he has to see them mean ole atv riders boo hoo !!!! shut the h#@! up you reject your just one of those poor little upstanding members of the community that would like nothing better than to see someone seriously hurt or killed you punk they arent hurting you stop CRYING
With your spelling and grammar you're either 12 years old or an uneducated adult, which is it?
Smokey4009
05-15-2011, 11:16 AM
Not to mention you managed to dig up a thread from 4 years ago? Were you one of those ATV riders he was talking about? Did you get in trouble? Not that I disagree with what your saying. Well, the idea behind what your saying. I can barely understand exactly what your saying.
If theres enough snow on the roads for a snowmobile to safely ride then more power to you. Its not like this city would let you ride in the dump or anything. I mean, god forbid they charge some money to let people ride down there. As far as the trails, behind the schools should be allowed but where else can you really safely ride?
CMNSNC
05-17-2011, 02:07 PM
Snowmobiles and ATV's can be dangerous when the law of the road is ignored.
That means doing wheelies and driving across peoples lawns tearing them up. It's bad enough this occurs during the day, but at night????
No lights and dark clothing! What are you thinking of....or not thinking!
The same goes for bicycle riders.
No reflective tape, dark clothing etc.
You may be obeying the rules of the road and riding in the proper lane, but consider this.
A car driver comes up behind you at night and you have none of the above, and a car is coming from the opposite direction, headlights on, you cannot be seen!
Give yourself a chance. Wear bright clothing, and put as much reflectiion on your bicycle as you can! In this case it doesn't matter who is right or wrong when you become roadkill!:eek:
And as for ATVRIDER, care to go up against my Chevy truck to see who's right or wrong?
I wouldn't want to hit you at all, but tone down that attitude or you just might run up against someone who wouldn't care if they hit you or not!
whitey495
05-18-2011, 09:34 AM
Why isn't an area around Meriden opened up for ATV and dirtbike riding and mountain biking? Why do hikers feel that they are the only ones that can use the woods? Don't tell me liability. You can get hurt hiking too. I've done all 3 of these activities and never felt that I had to ban anyone else's fun. I pay taxes just like anyone else. Why can't I use these resources?
Bustopher Jones
05-18-2011, 02:24 PM
Why isn't an area around Meriden opened up for ATV and dirtbike riding and mountain biking? Why do hikers feel that they are the only ones that can use the woods? Don't tell me liability. You can get hurt hiking too. I've done all 3 of these activities and never felt that I had to ban anyone else's fun. I pay taxes just like anyone else. Why can't I use these resources?
The key issue is irresponsible drivers. Hikers don't typically destroy trails; ATV's and other motorized vehicles often do.
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