Proposed Groton ordinance would crack down on street takeovers

Nov. 12—GROTON — The town has scaled back an earlier version of a proposed ordinance regulating all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other vehicles to instead focus on prohibiting street takeovers.

The proposed "Ordinance to Prohibit Street Racing and Street Takeovers," will go to a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Town Hall Annex.

The town's draft ordinance bans people from driving an ATV, mini-motorcycle or motorcycle on a public highway or parking area "in any race, contest, demonstration of speed or skill or street takeover" and sets fines for violations. A street takeover is defined as when people take over part of the street or parking area "by blocking or impeding the regular flow of traffic with intent to cause disorder or create a nuisance."

People violating the proposed ordinance would be fined $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second offense, and $2,500 for any further offenses. The vehicles involved also could be impounded or confiscated at the violator's expense.

The Town Council recently made changes to the first version of the proposed ordinance to make it more in line with a state law that allows towns to enact penalties for street takeovers.

Town Manager John Burt said the first version of the ordinance, which the Town Council discussed at its Oct. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, was still in draft form.

"Following questions from the Town Council, it became apparent that the draft went beyond the original intent by enacting rules beyond solely restricting street takeovers," Burt said.

He added that street takeovers continue to be endemic in the state. The town sees the proposed ordinance, which establishes fines and allows for speedier disposal of vehicles used to break the law, to be another tool to assist police.

Town Mayor Rachael Franco has said the council is proposing the ordinance following a death in the community.

In August 2023, Tiara Wheeler, 24, of Norwich was the passenger on a dirt bike and died after the bike crashed into a car on Long Hill Road and Meridian Street Extension.

Police said at the time that at least 10 dirt bikes and ATVs were operating recklessly in the area of the crash earlier in the evening, some with no lights on, popping wheelies, performing doughnuts and apparently trying to bait police officers into pursuing them on Long Hill Road and Route 12.