DC officials criticized for inaction on illegal ATV street riding
Repeated illegal ATV and dirt-bike stunts on Washington’s 14th Street have drawn criticism of the district’s attorney and police for failing to enforce traffic laws.
In April, a child was critically hurt after an illegal dirt-bike driver collided with him on Washington’s busy 14th Street, and the suspect fled with a group of friends. A subsequent night saw nearly two dozen ATV and dirt-bike riders speeding down the same road, executing wheelies and ignoring traffic signals, while police reportedly let them pass. Critics argue that District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb and the Metropolitan Police Department have shown a lax attitude toward the illegal riding, citing a lack of arrests and limited enforcement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a few offenders for related crimes but says it lacks authority to prosecute reckless driving unless tied to other federal offenses. Some suggest federal law-enforcement could pursue the riders more aggressively, possibly using racketeering statutes. The piece concludes that if local authorities remain passive, President Donald Trump could intervene using his authority over the federal district.
Why it matters
Unchecked illegal street riding endangers pedestrians and challenges public safety in the nation’s capital.
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