| The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department is targeting riders who operate their all-terrain vehicles on public roads.
The county passed ordinances two years ago prohibiting the riding of ATVs on paved or unpaved highways.
The ordinance has not been enforced.
Kanawha and other counties that have zoning were allowed to pass additional controls on ATV riding, in a bill passed by the WV legislature.
ATV riders in Calhoun and most rural counties are permitted to ride on unimproved roads, paved roads without a center line and are allowed restricted riding on primary highways with a center line, provided they ride the berm and have a defined destination.
The Kanawha department started undercover stings in select areas of the county yesterday, after an increase in the number of accidents, injuries and deaths.
The Kanawha ordinance allows officers to cite riders and impound their ATVs .
Sheriff Mike Rutherford says he hopes the patrols will curb serious injuries and fatalities. The state has already recorded 45 all-terrain vehicle deaths this year, surpassing last year's total record of 40.
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