Responsible 4-wheelers not at fault

A recent story about four-wheelers being ridden across private property at all hours of the night and destroying borough hydro-seeding projects should be an aberration to sensible people who use the ATVs for work or hunting.

Responsible riders can only shake their heads when they see irresponsible four-wheelers doing mischief.

So why aren’t they doing anything about it?

Why aren’t they holding meetings to let people know this kind of behavior won’t be tolerated in borough neighborhoods?

Business people who sell these machines should be at the forefront.

Because, if all of the above don’t start taking steps to stop these renegades, someone else will.

There are plenty of people in this community who would like to see these vehicles registered just like cars and pickups. And they would like to see the users limited to a certain age and made to take a test to get a special license just like motorcyclists.

They would also like to see these vehicles required to have insurance.

It’s long past time for people to speak up and do something about the reckless manner in which these machines are used, often by kids who aren’t old enough to get into a PG-13 movie.

The rest are just irresponsible idiots — regardless of age — who have no concern for other people’s property and security.

There is no question this issue will come to a boil for one of two reasons.

The first way is a child will be hit and killed or badly injured by one of these jerks and then legislators will regulate these machines that some people refer to as toys.

The other way is residents who are tired of the trespassers will start a campaign to make them registered as stated above and have drivers licensed as stated above.

In either case, something will be done. We hope it’s not for the first reason.

But rest assured, unless the four-wheeler community does something to curb this ongoing motorized vandalism on its own and soon, it won’t have a choice later. People are sick of giving in to these ATV bullies.

They can’t wait for the fines to start piling up and licenses revoked and four-wheelers being impounded.

If you think it can’t happen, then ask yourself this: Isn’t the state always looking for more income?

Clean it up, four-wheelers, or be prepared to pay the price.

All of the above could also be applied to snowmachines.