ATVs cause headaches for Lehigh Acres residents

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- ATVs have been causing headaches for Lehigh Acres residents for years. Now some people are finally saying enough is enough.

Riding an ATV through a canal or on preserves can cause thousands of dollars of damage and harm the environment.

Residents are complaining people are riding ATVs where they aren’t supposed to.

“On a typical canal, they’ll be able to drive up and down on either side,” said David Lindsey.

Lindsey says the all-terrain vehicles have also caused problems for the East County Water Control District.

“If water levels happened to be low, lot of times they’ll drive from one side to the other.”

Riding in a canal or on its banks causes erosion, that can lead to major drainage issues. It takes days to repair the damage and can costs thousands of dollars.

“We have to get heavy equipment such as bulldozers, long stick track hose,” said Lindsey.

Back in April, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office handed out at least 60 warnings to riders but the problem still persists.

Deputies say people don’t always know where to ride but all the riders have to do is ask where they are and aren’t allowed to go.

“If you are riding on property where it’s posted no trespassing, chances are you shouldn’t be there, and you will get ticketed and you could be arrested for it,” said Lieutenant Jeff Detkas.

Riders also find empty plots of land like the halfway pond and drive around.

That can destroy the vegetation and the environment.

“Water recharges to the aquifer and the vegetation helps clean that water up prior to it percolating into the ground,” said Lindsey.