The Freeborn County sheriff hopes to increase ATV safety by changing the department’s approach to ATV violations.

Sheriff Kurt Freitag announced Friday on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page that citations may be issued for ATV violations to the operators and parents of the operator when applicable.

“I’m taking this route out of safety, to prevent a tragedy and hopefully to get people to think of safety beforehand,” Freitag said. “Continue to have fun and enjoy your ATV, but please do it legally.”

The announcement was made after a 14-year-old girl was injured Aug. 17 after being trapped under an ATV near Glenville, but Freitag said ATV violations have been an ongoing issue.

He said many ATV violations involve a child who is not old enough to legally operate an ATV outside of private property.

“Many ATV laws pertain to personal safety one way or another, and those are oftentimes ignored,” Freitag said. “Also, many operators lack experience with handling an ATV, and that’s apparent by the nature of many ATV crashes we respond to.”

Training is required for anyone riding ATVs on public property who are born after July 1,1987, and is suggested for anyone riding ATVs on private property.

Anyone under 18 years old who is operating an ATV on public land must wear a Department of Transportation-approved, fully-enclosed helmet.

Freitag said ATV use and crashes have increased proportionally over the years.

“The years of warning people for ATV violations hasn’t been all that effective,” he said. “I don’t think many parents or guardians realize they are responsible when they allow their children to take an ATV out on roads when they aren’t compliant with certain ATV laws.”