An ATV driver taunted police and sped recklessly past their cruiser on a highway in Prince George’s County, Md.
The Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) is working to identify the driver to pursue formal charges. Investigators are looking at a video that surfaced on Facebook May 25 as well as dash-cam footage from the police cruiser.
“We are aware of this video and are investigating this incident,” Lt. David Coleman of the PGPD told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “We did not pursue in this case as the crimes committed do not warrant pursuit according to our departmental policy. The driver’s brazen and careless behavior has no place on our roadways.”
WATCH:
In the video capturing the incident, the man can be seen recklessly driving around a police cruiser and then popping his ATV up on the back wheels as he continues to speed. The driver then exits the highway and the police cruiser does not pursue.
Viewers of the video were surprised the police did not turn on their lights and chase down the ATV driver, however in Prince George’s County, the police are told to stand down in such circumstances due to the danger ATVs and dirt bikes pose on streets and highways. (RELATED: DC Police Crack Down On Illegal ATVs On City Streets)
“Our county, like so many in our region, has faced challenges with illegal dirt bikes and ATV use on public roadways for several years,” Coleman told TheDCNF. “These drivers need to understand driving in this fashion could lead to injury of another driver or themselves.”
Police in Washington, D.C., cracked down on illegal riders of ATVs and dirt bikes in April in an effort to curb the growing problem responsible for a number of police officer injuries. The Metropolitan Police Department said it arrested over 100 people and seized roughly 400 off-road vehicles since it began a targeted operation a year ago. Once a case is closed the MPD destroys the seized property.
Police are instructed to stand down and not pursue ATVs breaking the law in the District as well, in an effort to protect the safety of officers and pedestrians. The laws banning ATV and dirt bike use on roadways are being regularly ignored throughout the D.C. metropolitan area by gangs who police say intentionally attract attention in an attempt to start a chase with police.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.