Off-road vehicles causing havoc on Rainbow's public streets

Barry Krumwiede is in charge of his Neighborhood Watch and has spent many sleepless nights worried about the kids speeding up and down the three-mile stretch of Rainbow Glen Road.

“These kids are between 8 and16 years old and they are driving these unlicensed ATVs and dirt bikes on this street – sometimes without their helmets on,” said Krumwiede.

Krumwiede has lived in the neighborhood for the past 11 years and claims that the problem is growing worse. As off-road vehicles are legally forbidden on public streets and highways, these children are breaking the rules and, even worse, their parents are allowing it.

Krumwiede has approached the parents of these children and every meeting has been unsuccessful in a resolution. “These parents are telling me that they told their kids to go out for a ride. These parents are acting irresponsibly.” Moreover, parents are becoming upset with Krumwiede, as are their children. “The kids are treating me worse.”

“My main concern is trying to save lives and it’s frustrating when the parents are not caring,” said Krumwiede.

Off-road vehicles are not meant for public streets. Riding them on highways, and sharp-turned roads such as Rainbow Glen, is just too dangerous, he said.

According to Krumwiede, the off-road vehicle activity on Rainbow Glen commences in the early morning hours and normally continues until 2 or 3 a.m. The noise reverberating from these vehicles is tremendously loud, since they have no mufflers.

“I can’t sleep,” Krumwiede said. “I’m worried about these kids.”

Krumwiede has taken numerous photos of these minors illegally riding the roads and has kept daily logs of his phone calls to the Sheriff’s Department and Highway Patrol. Unfortunately, by the time authorities arrive to Rainbow Glen, the kids are off the streets. “The motto of the Highway Patrol is: ‘If I can’t see them, I can’t catch them,’” shared Krumwiede.

Sergeant Hall of the Oceanside Police Department mentioned that they have had some traffic complaints on Rainbow Glen. “We have been out there over the past few years,” he said.

Krumwiede’s frustrations are escalating. He explained that the kids normally congregate with their off-road vehicles at The Oaks of Rainbow Restaurant. From Rainbow Glen, they turn left on Old Highway 395 and stay on it until they reach their destination.

If the situation does not change soon, Krumwiede has decided to broaden his phone calls to Child Protective Services. He has also seen these kids drinking alcohol while operating their ATVs and dirt bikes.

Krumwiede’s biggest fear is to wake up and read in the morning paper that a minor has become injured or a fatality has occurred. “If I can save one life,” he says, “I have done what I was meant to do.”