Although the City Council could pass an ordinance specifically banning ATVs in the city and set a fine for violating it, Harper believes existing laws and fines are probably enough.

The fine for most traffic violations is $20 to $25 and the $120 court cost per charge helps drive home the point of the law.

“Most of them can be charged with more than one ticket,” he said.

As for trespassing on private property, Harper said that, by law, the first violation results in a warning. After that, the property owner must ask the city magistrate for a warrant to arrest someone for trespassing. Or, if a police officer sees an ATV driver trespassing and knows that the person has already been warned, the officer can make an arrest.

Athens police receive roughly six complaints a week about ATVs, mainly on weekends and especially in the summer. When officers issue citations, it is usually for an equipment violation, Harper said. In Clark’s case, the officer who responded to a complaint about an ATV rider on his property was cited for an equipment violation.

Harper believes better supervision by parents, at the behest of neighbors, would help address the problem.

“Parents should make sure they are supervising them pretty close because we are going to be watching them,” Harper said.

Health Department officials issued stronger advice for parents of ATV riders in announcing Thursday they were launching a statewide educational campaign.

The 18- by 24-inch posters show a wheelchair under the caption: “This could be your next 4-wheeler.”

A 200-percent increase over the past 10 years in ATV traumas seen at Children’s Hospital of Alabama prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics and medical and safety experts at Children’s Hospital to strongly recommend that no child under age 16 ride or drive an ATV, according to the press release announcing the campaign.

The press release also points out the lack of laws regarding ATVs.

“Despite the alarming increases in ATV deaths and life-altering injuries, government regulation continues to be all but absent.”

Clark believes stricter laws would help property owners, like him, who are tired of ATV riders crossing their property as well as the young people riding them.