CSPD is working to update laws to better enforce no motorized vehicles on urban trails

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is collaborating with the City Attorney to draft new ordinances to increase penalties for illegal use of motorized vehicles on city trails.

Enforcement of these violations is difficult because riders are often gone by the time police arrive at the scene, according to CSPD, which is now seeking additional measures to address the issue.

Police officials stated a need for more effective deterrents. "We would like more enforcement tools. We would like some stiffer penalties and some things that will really make more of an impact on people who aren't changing their behavior through lower levels of enforcement," a spokesperson for CSPD said.

Due to enforcement being challenging, zero citations have been issued for such violations in the past six months, according to police.

The department says they see this issue affecting trails throughout Colorado Springs.

One of those trails is the Sand Creek Trail, where neighbors have expressed concern over the potential for injury due to the high speeds of these vehicles.

"We're really concerned that at some point here, someone may get hurt because they're just going so fast," says Jim Brogan said.

The department and City Attorney are in the early stages of drafting the new ordinances and exploring various methods to help catch illegal riders in the act. The proposed ordinances, once drafted, must be signed by the mayor before they can become law.

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