They were also riding recklessly and terrorizing cars on Middletown Ave near Front Street. The quad was popping a wheelie as they rode around cars.

I too am deeply unhappy about the sense of lawlessness the bikers create. I would like to use the Clinton School fields to play baseball with my children—but having been on the fields with my kids when the bikers were tearing it apart, I feel like families have been chased from the field. Who in their right mind would want to put their kids in that situation?

So, what do we do? Does anyone think that the Mayor's office even looks at this forum? Or anyone from the police department? There are so many threads about this, and NOTHING seems to have changed since the handful of arrests last summer.

Does anyone have ideas on how can we get the mayor's attention on this? Perhaps this is far beyond the power of the mayor's office and we need resources and attention at the state level? I wonder if wider media attention would help? The problem seems to exist in various forms in multiple cities: The "12 o'clock boys" film about the Baltimore bikers; and this recent Times article about NYC: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/nyregion/warm-weather-brings-out-banned-vehicles-and-officers-pounce.html

I welcome any and all thoughts about how concerned citizens might organize to find a peaceful way to get these bikes off our streets and out of our parks.

Honestly it's an uphill battle for everyone, with few solutions. The best recourse right now is to call it in to the dispatcher every time you see any dirtbike anywhere, and give as many descriptive details as possible. Take photos or videos if you're able. The other thing that's even more valuable is to find out where they are coming from -- where do they live? Where are the bikes & quads being stored? Then the police can actually get to them. Thanks for reporting!

“If, with the dirt bikes or the motorcycles or anything, people are breaking the law and harassing their neighbors, the N.Y.P.D. will step in and we will do it aggressively, because that’s how you keep order.”

NHPD & Mayor Harp -educate yourselves with the above article in NY.

Apparently Harpo does not want to keep order in New Haven unless its perks and contracts to friends and constituents.

Yup ~ they were speeding thru Burwell (heading toward Russell & Lexington), passing cars by going into the opposite lane. Year after year, we complain & it continues to go on & on. Why is it that we who drive cars have to pay to have licenses & to register our vehicles while these kids & young adults can drive so recklessly without any consequences? If I drove the way they do, I'd be pulled over & given a very costly ticket!

I saw them on Rt 80 near Walmart. They had white handkerchiefs covering their faces and were driving wildly, doing wheelies. This was Sunday at around 4pm.

I'm a renter, I was drawn in by the nice old houses on Quinnipiac. But I'm going to leave. The area could be nice but I guess too many dirt bags live around here.

Jude I think the difference is in the fact that if a police car were chasing you, you'd actually stop. These riders don't, thus it's incredibly difficult to catch and identify them. In a car vs dirt bike chase, the dirt bike will win--they can outmaneuver a car every time. Personally I don't want to even see that chase happen in a neighborhood (okay, once in a while I do :)

The neighbors of these riders KNOW that they ride and KNOW where they live, but aren't saying anything. That needs to change!

Born and raised in New Haven and love so many things about this town. But this issue is by far my least favorite part of living here. There is absolutely zero doubt that it's only a matter of time before one of those illegal dirt bike/quad riders causes serious injury of kills a (legal) park goer or innocent pedestrian crossing the street. It's incredibly frustrating to sit back and wait for it to happen while no meaningful plan of action is implemented to control and/or eliminate the problem. What will it take to elicit some action on this? A trio of quads mowing down a group of preschoolers out for a day in the park? A wheelie riding dirt biker losing control and sending his motorcycle cartwheeling into a crowded bus stop? Seriously... what will it take? Because again it's only a matter of time.

Amen to that, "NewHavenBorn&Raised"!

Another question is who is selling all these non street legal dirt bikes and quads? There are a few shops in the area that seem to cater to this market. Since (as far as I know) it is illegal to ride them on anything other then private property or a handful of approved sites in the state why is is OK for these dealers to continue to profit from selling what amounts to a guaranteed law breaker?

I called in 1 to 911 for the first time the other day. Had not thought to do this previously but riding the wrong way on a one way feels like an emergency. The call taker agreed and was very expediant about taking my call.

The pawn shop in Cedar Hill sells these bikes as I understand it.

Thanks Ben that's encouraging that the 911 operator acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. That's the position I would hope that the NHPD would take on this... that it's not just a nuisance but a serious public safety issue.

Though I do not doubt some off-road vehicles are sold through purchases at retail dealers and pawn shops (it strikes me that less so the former due to retail cost of one new), from conversations at neighborhood meetings with PD members I understand that many of these off-road unregistered vehicles are stolen property with the serial or "VIN" type numbers often defaced. In fact, an officer once told a group of us in FH that there are reports of burglaries in surrounding towns where *only* dirt bikes and ATVs were stolen.

My impression has been that NHPD takes it seriously and is equally frustrated. I think that 911 is separate from PD as a separate point.

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Lolo is the one who is leading the pack of dirt bikes along with any speranza from east haven and have games tru who lives by forbes gas station they drive out out of control and drive in the opposite lane

Lolo. Gabe canestri from new haven and ant speranza from east haven. Are part of the pack seen days ago driving reckless

If i were you id look into lolo and gabe canestri his father runs the motorcycle club hole on the wall. He lives by forbes gas station these two are the Ring leaders in this bikelife situation

These guys are buyin there dirt bikes from pawn shops. Obviously they go on craigslist where there are many bikes being sold. I want this problem to stop they are getting too out of control and they are terrorizing people everywhere and putting families in danger just to get a thrill

So we know who they are, where they live (presumably), the color makes and decals of
their bikes since residents have risked their well being and posted photos, we know where they ride, how they ride (recklessly and illegally always, we now we know their names and even their hangouts and we get to watch them in high definition on YouTube.

Oh and I forgot that a group New Haven residents from all neighborhoods got together to plan in how to help pass legislation to increase fines effectively closing a loophole on the laws against this type if reckless endangerment.

Lastly, their are also likely hundreds of calls to NHPD non-emergency (203-946-6316) and 911.

NHPD and Mayor Harp--what else can we as community residents do here? Unless one risks an altercation with these packs of unafraid teens--and clearly NOT much frightens then by way of laws--I am not sure what else the community can add to there efforts. This has been going on for much too long.

Legislation is useless if it is not enforced . . .

Thanks Willy for the Info. we have arrested LoLo a dozen times , we went into his house on Pine street and took his bikes away. We sent him to Bridgeport Juvenile detention. We (Police) have testified in Hartford about this issue. We cant chase or knock them off their bikes and Quads because of Liabilities to the Department and the city. We do take it seriously but we are extremely frustrated because of the lax in discipline. But we wont give up. We will continue to do our jobs.

Thanks PD for that comment. I'm curious to see how this summer will play out because if I remember correctly, Lolo will be losing his juvenile status pretty soon, which opens him up to more severe penalties. It would be fantastic to get him off the street permanently!

Sargeant: I know you guys are doing GREAT work with limited resources. The community really appreciates you and the members of your patrol teams, I personally, after several conversations with you and members of your team get the difficulty of the issue and understand (and I personally agree with) the no-chase policy.

I only wished you received more help on this, if the idea is to help build commerce and increase economic activity in our residential neighborhoods (in addition to downtown) a focus on all crime including quality of life crimes is needed.

Mayor De Blasio said it best when asked about this same issue, and the way NYC is dealing with it recently: “Everyone has to follow the law in this town (NYC).” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/nyregion/warm-weather-brings-out-banned-vehicles-and-officers-pounce.html

Thank you, PDM! That's such good news!

Great comment. "FairHavener" & excellent article. Thank you.

Yes thank you PDM for your comments and efforts on this matters.

Thank you, NHPD! We all appreciate the updates and know you are working hard on this pervasive issue.

Thank you, NHPD for the comment here, and for all your work so far.

Thinking about legislative angles: does anyone have ideas about specific people in the General Assembly to whom we could write or submit petitions asking for more resources dedicated to solving this problem? Is this issue being actively taken up by anyone in the state senate or house?

Or does anyone know if Murphy or Blumenthal are interested in working on this issue?

(And in the meantime, I'll google and post whatever I find...)

This hasn't been resolved but closing nonetheless because of length of time open.