MAHONING TOWNSHIP Officials, residents cite frustration over violators on four-wheelers

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- Mahoning Township supervisors are continuing to have problems with people operating four-wheelers in the township.
But they said at their Tuesday night meeting there is little they can do to stop them.
Residents said a large number of people park their cars on private property and then ride the recreational vehicles in the quarries.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Pete Vogel, station commander at the New Castle barracks, attended the meeting and agreed the vehicles are a problem.
He said they are difficult to chase because they can disappear onto back roads or into the woods. He said he would ask his officers to check the area for violators but said it is difficult to control the problem.
Supervisor Poncho Exposito said that while "four-wheelers are out of control," supervisors have no authority to stop the violators. Only state police can cite them.
The township does not have a police department but is starting a cooperative department with Pulaski Township in July.
Won't fight anymore
Supervisor Vito Yeropoli said he has given up fighting the four-wheeler drivers who illegally park their cars on the lot of his fireworks store.
"I put up 'No Trespassing' signs. They ripped them down. I had them towed. They came back and shot my windows out," Yeropoli said. "I'm tired of calling the [state] police. When the police leave, they vandalize my property."
Other residents agreed they also have experienced retaliation from drivers of the vehicles when they try to stop them from parking on their property.
The residents also asked Vogel to have his troopers monitor trucks coming from the BFI landfill onto Main Street. They complained the trucks do not stop at the stop signs.