islandpacket.com - The Island Packet Online

• Archive Search

Search Everything in the Lowcountry and the Coastal Empire.

ATVs become neighborhood nuisances in Bluffton

Comment on this | | | | | | | |

They come out at night, off-roading speedsters, engines roaring as they wind through Bluffton's power line easements and otherwise quiet neighborhoods.

All-terrain vehicles have become a nuisance for some Bluffton residents and business owners who are tired of the motorized four-wheelers buzzing through the few remaining scraps of available open land.

All-terrain vehicles tearing through neighborhoods is "not an uncommon problem," says Bluffton Police Chief David McAllister, as the once predominantly rural landscape has turned to asphalt, homes and stores.

And while riders are supposed to stay on private property with the permission of a land owner, McAllister said, Bluffton's growth has created a situation where "there's nowhere for the four-wheelers to ride."

But that hasn't stopped some from trying.

It's especially a problem for communities near power line easements where ATVers regularly ride the open strips of land, said county administrator Gary Kubic. Also a Bluffton resident, Kubic said he's seen ATVs zooming through his neighborhood.

"Vehicles move from the trails onto the street," and "occasionally it can conflict with the quiet residential atmosphere," he said.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office recently has been hearing complaints about four-wheelers at a construction site near the intersection of S.C. 170 and Bluffton Parkway. The Malphrus Construction site at the end of Davis Road has become a hot spot for riders who regularly gather there on Saturdays, said sheriff's Master Sgt. Jason Covington.

Malphrus Construction had concerns about liability, and deputies will patrol the area to try to prevent the four-wheelers from traveling the winding dirt road.

But that won't be easy.

McAllister said it can be tough to track down riders of the easily maneuverable ATVs, who can dart off the dimly lit easements to avoid being caught. Bluffton police instead work with residents to find out who the riders are so they can sit down with ATVers and tell them what areas are off-limits.

So what's an out-of-land ATV enthusiasts to do?

McAllister suggested that they "just have to find a private land owner who's willing to let (them) ride on their property. And unfortunately, there aren't a lot of those left."

| | | | | | |