[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Oyster
Bay 9-12-2017 by L.L. No. 9-2017. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay ("Town") hereby finds
that the operation of all-terrain vehicles on Town property poses
an unacceptable risk of serious injury or death for Town residents
and causes economic and environmental damage to public parks, sports
facilities, recreation areas, natural habitats and nature preserves.
The Board further finds that the operation of all-terrain vehicles
causes destruction to the native flora and fauna, soil compaction
and erosion, as well as noise pollution to surrounding neighborhoods.
It is the intent of this chapter to ensure public safety, environmental
protection and general welfare of the Town and its residents by restricting
use and operation of all-terrain vehicles on Town property and authorizing
the police to impound such vehicles when operated in violation of
this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any self-propelled vehicle which is made or manufactured
for operation primarily on off-highway trails or in off-highway competitions,
or in dirt, sand, grass, up and down hills and in similar-type areas
and which is only incidentally operated on public highways, provided
that such vehicle does not exceed 70 inches in width or 1,000 pounds
dry weight. This definition shall also include any motorized dirt
bike, snowmobile or other self-propelled tracked vehicle which is
made or manufactured for operation primarily on off-highway trails
or in off-highway competitions. This definition does not include golf
carts, lawn tractors, lawn mowers, and battery-operated vehicles.
The Commissioner of the Department of Parks of the Town of
Oyster Bay or his or her designee.
To ride in or on, other than as a passenger, or use or control
the operation of an ATV in any manner, whether or not the ATV is in
motion.
Every person who operates or is in actual physical control
of an ATV.
The Town of Oyster Bay
All real property owned or leased by the Town, including
but not limited to parks, together with all of the driveways, parking
areas and grounds surrounding the same.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an ATV on, over
or across any Town property. Operation of an ATV on streets maintained
by the Town shall be governed by New York State law.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for the parent, guardian or any person having
the care, custody or control of any child under the age of 16 years
to knowingly permit such child to operate an ATV in violation of this
chapter.
B.Â
Whenever any child under the age of 16 years is alleged to have violated
this chapter, his or her parent, guardian or any other person having
the care, custody or control of the child shall be notified by the
Code Enforcement Officer or police officer.
C.Â
Where an ATV is operated in violation of this chapter by a child
under the age of 16 years, there shall be a rebuttable presumption
that his or her parent, guardian or any other person having the care,
custody or control of the child has knowingly permitted such operation.
D.Â
The failure of any person charged under this section to rebut the
presumption shall not mean that the trier of fact must find the person
guilty or that the burden of proof relative to the underlying charge(s)
has been shifted upon the accused.
This chapter shall not apply to the operation of ATVs under
circumstances regulated by any agency of the State of New York, or
to any ATV operated by a public official or public employee in his
or her official capacity for a public purpose, including emergency
service, police protection, fire protection, public works activity
and any other such use or activity approved by the Town.
[Amended 3-15-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022]
All employees of the Department of Planning and Development,
the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and
the Department of Parks who are now or hereafter charged with the
responsibility to perform inspection and/or enforcement duties with
regard to the laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations within
the general jurisdiction of their respective departments, as well
as police officers having jurisdiction, are hereby further empowered
to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to issue appearance
tickets returnable in the District Court of Nassau County for violations
thereof.
Any person or persons who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be punished as follows:
A.Â
For conviction of a first offense, by a fine of not less than $500.
B.Â
For conviction of the second of two offenses, both of which were
committed within a period of five years, by a fine of not less than
$1,500 and not more than $3,000.
C.Â
For conviction of a third or subsequent offense, all of which were
committed within a period of five years, by a fine of not less than
$5,000 and not more than $10,000.
D.Â
The parent or legal guardian, other than a state or local social
services department foster parent having custody, of any unemancipated
person under the age of 16 years found guilty of a violation of this
chapter shall be responsible for the payment of the fine imposed by
a court of competent jurisdiction for such violation. In no event
shall it be a defense that the parent or legal guardian has exercised
reasonable supervision over the activities of the person under the
age of 16 years.
E.Â
The parent or legal guardian, other than a state or local social
services department foster parent having custody, of any unemancipated
person under the age of 16 years found guilty of a violation of this
chapter shall be responsible for restitution for any damage caused
to real property or improvements located thereon owned and/or operated
by the Town. In no event shall it be a defense that the parent or
legal guardian has exercised reasonable supervision over the activities
of the person under the age of 16 years.
A.Â
Any ATV operated in violation of this chapter shall be subject to
impoundment by a duly sworn police officer acting pursuant to his
or her official duties. The law enforcement agencies impounding an
ATV pursuant to this chapter may promulgate regulations for the storage
and release of impounded ATVs.
B.Â
Where notification of impoundment to titled owners is required by
regulation, the law enforcement agency providing such notification
shall not be liable for any damages arising out of the provision of
an erroneous name or address of such owner.
Should any section or portion of this chapter conflict with
the laws of the State of New York applicable to the operation, registration,
ownership or control of ATVs, the laws of the State of New York shall
take precedence.
It is hereby determined pursuant to the provisions of the State
Environmental Quality Review Act, ECL § 8-0101 et seq.,
and its implementing regulations, Part 617 of 6 NYCRR, that the adoption
of this chapter is a "Type II" action within the meaning of Section
617.5(c)(20) of 6 NYCRR, pertaining to "routine or continuing agency
administration and management, not including new programs or major
reordering of priorities that may affect the environment" and, accordingly,
is of a class of actions which do not have a significant effect on
the environment and no further review is required.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, word or part of
this chapter is adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder of this chapter but shall be confined in its operation to
the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, word or part of this chapter
directly involved in the controversy in which judgment is rendered.
