04/26/2026
The Margaret Police Department would like to address a question we often receive regarding motorcycles, dirt bikes, and four-wheelers being operated on roadways.
Many citizens ask why officers do not immediately pursue these vehicles for minor traffic violations. The answer is simple: public safety comes first.
In many cases, these vehicles are being operated by juveniles or inexperienced riders. Initiating a high-speed pursuit over a minor traffic offense can quickly create a far greater danger than the original violation itself not only for the rider, but also for innocent motorists, pedestrians, and families in the area.
A pursuit involving a motorcycle or ATV often carries a very high risk of serious injury or death, especially when the rider is not wearing proper safety equipment. When there is a strong likelihood that the operator is a child, that risk becomes even more significant.
Our goal is not simply enforcement, it is protecting life. Officers must constantly balance the need for enforcement with the responsibility to make the safest decision for everyone involved.
This does not mean violations are ignored. We work to identify offenders through other investigative means, community cooperation, and targeted enforcement when it can be done safely.
We ask parents to help us by ensuring their children understand the laws regarding off-road vehicles and the dangers of operating them illegally on public streets.
Sometimes the safest decision is not the most popular one, but it is still the right one.
