The Bethel Police Department has reported that two ATVs fled from an officer during a traffic stop, and the officer did not pursue. The report is in the Bethel Police Department June 2024 Monthly Report. Officers conducted 18 traffic stops on ATVs, which resulted in 5 citations issued.
The Bethel City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 22-02 on May 24, 2022 that amends the Bethel Municipal code governing the operation of all terrain vehicle (ATVs) on public roadways within the City of Bethel.
According to the ordinance, ATVs are permitted to operate on public roadways within city limits, under the following conditions:
Except as otherwise provided in section, ATVs must comply within City of Bethel and the State of Alaska traffic laws and ordinances.
•ATVs must be registered through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
•Must have proof of registration, and registration must be displayed in the designated location on the vehicle.
•Vehicles must have liability insurance, and proof of the insurance must be presented upon demand.
While driving on a public roadway within city limits, ATVs:
•Must stay on the correct side of the lane and traffic except when crossing the road;
•May not pass other moving vehicles;
•May not operate in any other manner that may be considered carless, reckless, or negligent;
•Must be under one thousand five hundred (1,500) pounds (including cargo).
•Obey posted speed limit.
•The speed limit is a parking lot or an area congested with pedestrians is five (5) miles per hour.
•The operator must have a valid driver’s license.
Per BMC 10.03.040 – Operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) – Section 4(f) Must wear a helmet when operating an ATV.
Per BMC 10.03.06o Penalties-
•A fine of twenty-five ($25) for the first (1st) violation;
•A fine of fifty dollars ($50) for the second (2nd) violation; or
•A fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for a third (3rd) or subsequent violation.
Visit https://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/reg/snow.htm for information on how to register new/used vehicles, the registration requirements, registration fees, decals, etc.
The Bethel Police will be participating in a high visibility traffic enforcement campaign for the month of July. The campaign is sponsored by the Alaska Department of Highway Safety.
“The one thing that is more happening more are the 4-wheelers on the highway. I just want to remind them they are expected to follow the law of the road just like a vehicle,” said Council Member Rose “Sugar” Henderson during their June 11th, 2024 regular council meeting. “That means you can’t drive around the vehicle when you don’t want to stop at a stop sign … when the vehicle in front of you is stopped you should stop, not drive around them. You have a responsibility just like anybody else in a car or a truck.”