Four wheelers on Fletcher Rd

[Mollyd79]

Hi Everyone - This is my first post on this website. I moved to Fairfax about a year and a half ago and this site has really been great on keeping me up-to-date on the 'goings on' in the town.

I was wondering if anyone else is having issues with the four-wheelers on Fletcher Rd, particullary at Sanderson's Corner? I live right there and the wheelies and break stands are really starting to get old. Especially, after it took me an hour to get my baby to sleep and they show up and wake him up. My husband has gone directly to one of there houses and asked them nicely, but it didn't seem to work, they were out doing break stands at 8 tonight. My husband was in rare form tonight and chased them for a little bit in his truck, which caused them to come back in a big, loud truck and peel out in front of our house a couple of times. We don't want trouble....just peace. I actually went to their house to talk to them myself but no one was home.

Sorry this is so long winded, I just needed to vent. Just wondering if anyone else in the town is fed up and if there is anything I can do?

Thanks for listening!

Molly

[Mummy]

Molly,

You are not alone on this topic but it seems like you will have to figure out another way to get the baby to sleep with the four wheels chasing each other down Shepardson Hollow Road.  I had to purchase an Air Cleaner just to block out the noise while my child was young and they use to wake the baby.  In addition, our neighbor is retired and uses loud power saws in his garage all day long  or chain saw which also woke the baby!

I only wished the Sheriff would enforce the four wheelers like the he does the speeds on Fletcher Road in the "30 mph" zone.  If you could get the Sheriff to monitor the four wheeler like that, you would stand a Chance of living in Peace!  Otherwise you may want to invest in the Air Cleaners which worked well for us.  I am still using it when the lawn mowers, chain saws and work shop saws go all day long!

Good Luck

[David Shea]

Call Sheriff, Robert Norris and voice your concerns.  He is up for re-election this year.  If he can not put an end to an issue like this, then maybe he should not be re-elected to his position.

[Mollyd79]

Thanks for the advice. We do already use a fan AND a sound machine in his room but, on these hot summer night with his window open, it doesn't really do the job. The four-wheelers don't really bother me when they are driving up and down the road...it's the break stands, peel outs and driving excessively fast that really rub me the wrong way, especially at the hour they usually occur. If I didn't have a baby, I would be sitting down for dinner or trying to unwind from a long day. I'm just surprised that they can get away with it with all the houses and families around. I've seen them on a number of occasions almost take out a jogger or a kid on a bicycle...it's a disaster waiting to happen. We did talk to the Sherrif and he kinda laughed, which was a little unsettling.

[GamingWeasel]

It doesnt sound like to me that your husband chasing them around is a good idea, especially if you dont really know the people very well.  Something like that could escalate into an out-of-control situation.

I live on Maple St, and feel the same way about people speeding down the road and over the covered bridge.  I explored the idea of getting speed bumps, and Chris Santee brought it up at a Selectboard meeting, but it turns out the town would be liable for any damage caused to cars that went too fast over the speed-bumps!  Seem like a pretty ridiculous way for the law to work...

[Margie]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought it was illegal to ride 4 wheelers on main roads.  I seem to recall there being an issue many years ago with ATVs and there was some law put in effect to keep them off roads. 

Even so - from the sounds of what is described here, a sherriff should be called to put a stop to that behavior. 

I have the issue with snow mobiles during the winter riding on the rec path...at midnight.  I don't mind them riding on the rec path during the day - it helps to pack the snow down for walkers - but why at midnight??  Unfortunately, that time will be arriving soon enough...

[Mummy]

Margie,

You are correct - it is illegal to ride four wheelers on the road.  However, I don't believe anyone is complaining of that part as much as the speed and the noise of their ride.  Do they really have to go so fast that they put the driver of the on coming car in danger or the individual walking or running on the side of the road?  The noise is just so unnecessary.  Calling the Sheriff does not yeild the same result as the "30mph" speed zone on Fletcher Road which IS enforced consistantlty!  We are just asking for a "liittle" bit of Sheriff enforcement like a conversation with the four wheelers riders and or their parents would be a great start.   I betya the Sheriff would know who is a four wheeler rider.

[Mollyd79]

GamingWeasel - No, my husband chasing them around was not the answer and he regretted it after the fact. Like I said, he was in rare form. I tried to go over to their house after and nip this whole situation in the bud but, that specific truck was around. Yes, we know where they all live. My husband spoke with one of their father's last night and he said he would talk to them so, we'll see. There are lots and lots of trails around, I don't see what is so intriguing about the roads when it causes so much danger and irritation to everyone else. I don't think I will be allowing my son to ride his bike down any of these roads if this isn't resolved, which is unfortunate. I'm hoping they will all grow up sometime soon.

[PotterFXFD]

 I have lived just down the road for 15 yrs, the 4 wheelers have been a problem (AT TIMES) for 15 years. I t will be good for awhile then a new bunch of kids turn 14 and out they come again.

[mkr]

I agree with PotterFXFDC1.  Over the years (40 years for me), we have spurts of disrespectful 4 wheelers.  I recently had one pull in my drive and blow a doughnut in the crush stone that flew up towards my vehicles.  I have no idea who this young guy was but I came running out with our big dog and he flew off. I wanted to chase him, but knew I shouldn't.

I don't mind them using the road if they go cautiously to get to their next trail, that has never been an issue.  But don't pull in my driveway, don't tailgate vehicles, and don't go flying by on two wheels.

Dissappointed the Sheriff laughed.  He needs to do more then catching speeders to get my vote again.  People are getting broke into, he should be travelling the area and not just main street.  We all pay for his service to this town.

The four wheelers all seem to be travelling around 7pm-9pm is a lot of the time I see them pass my house; would be nice if the Sheriff hung around Fletcher Road a bit then.

[Margie]

The point of my comment was to find out if their behavior is illegal.  Since it is, the sherriff's department should be called and they should handle it...not chuckle and say "kids will be kids".  As MK said, this has been a problem for a very long time.  We had an issue about 20 years with a couple of kids having a 4 wheeler.  They came from somewhere behind the school and would go flying down thru the covered bridge.  I seem to recall Irving Geno handled that one...

Gamingweasel - I would agree with you about a speed bump by the covered bridge.  With so many kids, dogs, and bikes heading to the rec path, the way some people fly thru our street is very scary.  Bizarre that the town would be liable if someone was stupid enough to hurt their car by driving too fast over the bump.  What a sue-happy society we live in...

[monte198]

You are correct it is illegal for four wheelers to be on the roadway in Fairfax.  There are towns that have local ordinances that allow four wheelers on the roadway.  This covers farmers that need to use the roadway to get from field to field as well.  If there was an ordinance like many towns it would require the vehicle to be register insured and the owner identity to be released to the town.  Last i knew the sheriff's office was in town for only 40hrs per week and at request of the select board and town for the burglary spree in town.  Now it sounds that the concern is to switch to nights in fairfax.  I believe that this issue has been brought up before and with the sheriff's office only covering 40 hrs the town then defaults to the Vermont state police for coverage.  If i had to guess i bet both Dept's have a very strict policy with what can be done in regards to four wheelers.

[Loctavious]

The unfortunate truth is that law enforcement has a directive to NOT chase them - this is for similar reasons why the Police in California don't chase motorists at high speeds now - because of toomany crashes that hurt others.

The soccer club had issues with te 4 wheelers a few years back - and when the police were brought in it was made clear that they WILL NOT chase them.  So, these atvers who aremajor safety risks to not only themselves but to all aroudn them are basically allowed to do this - and the guy over on goose pond road wit the go cart gets a ticket......

The one time those kids were caught was after they vandalized the soccer fields and a citizen followed them and called the police.  So if your husband want s to do something constructive for yoru situation - i'd video tape them in the roads, and doing all the bad stuff they're doing  - make sure you get soem faces if possible and then call the police!

[Formerflatlander]

Found it interesting tonight at 7:00 when I passed Sheperdson going down Fletcher that there was a Franklin County Sheriff coming off Sheperdson.  Found it more interesting that on my way back up Fletcher, at 9:00, that I again saw the same, or another, Sheriff cruiser once again pulling off of Sheperdson.  Until this topic popped up today I can't recall over the past six months seeing a sheriff cruiser this far into the Fairfax backcountry.  Coincidence,,,,,,,,, I think not.  I think we got somebodies attention today.

[Mike Raburn]

Shotgun and tire shredders.

Molly,
Have hubby, in rare form, on the porch with bird shot and blast a few!
Then have him toss down a few hundred nails,,,,you get my drift..

Back in my Navy days we would string..............well, nevermind.


WOLVERINES!!!!!!!!