Suffolk County ATV drivers to lose riding facility amid police crackdown on illegal riders

Tenth Street Motocross in Ronkonkoma is a six-acre dirt track where people can practice their skills on dirt bikes and ATVs. The place is set to close down in two weeks because the lease is up.

News 12 Staff

Jan 16, 2023, 5:28 PM

Updated 710 days ago

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Suffolk County ATV drivers will soon have one less place to legally ride at a time when police are enforcing new penalties for illegal riders. 
Tenth Street Motocross in Ronkonkoma is a six-acre dirt track where people can practice their skills on dirt bikes and ATVs. 
However, the place is set to close down in two weeks because the lease is up. Riders are frustrated because they have no other place legally ride in Suffolk County. 
This comes as Suffolk County leaders and police have been cracking down on drivers of ATV and dirt bikes who decide to ride illegally on roadways and sidewalks. 
Suffolk County police say they received 1,500 calls in 2022 of residents complaining of noise, property damage and unsafe dirt bike driving on roads. 
Last week, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone signed legislation to increase penalties for people who illegally drive ATV and dirt bikes on public roads. 
“Our hope is that these penalties will deter anyone who thinks about getting on an ATV and illegally driving it on the roadways or on someone else's property,” Bellone said. 
Riders of ATVs and dirt bikes say they want Suffolk County to help them find a place they can legally ride. 
Under the new law, anyone who illegally operates an ATV and puts people in danger will face a fine of $1,000 for first time offenders. Second time offenders will face $3,000 and third time offenders face $7,500.
Police say if you see someone drive recklessly, call Crime Stoppers at -800-220-TIPS and you could get a reward of $200.