Description
I just witnessed about a dozen people on dirtbikes and quads tear through our neighborhood directly in front of a police car. The office hit his siren once and followed ambivalently as they sped away against traffic, on sidewalks, nearly causing an accident at the corner of Winthrop and Chapel. You could still hear them a minute later, presumably all the way to Whalley. This is out of f'in control and ridiculous! How is it our police force cant stop a bunch of idiot teenagers riding around on these things? Someones going to get really hurt one day when they cause an accident or lose control of their ride. I think its time for the police to reexamine their "no chase" policy, clearly relationship building and stakeouts aren't working. It's only June and this issue is out of hand, worse than its been in previous years. Cant we basically just station officers at all the major intersections in the neighborhoods they like to frequent and blockade them in, then arrest and seize the bikes/ quads? Something else needs to be done.
13 Comments
Anonymous Hiker (Registered User)
Artman (Registered User)
What about an organized protest? We can meetup and demand that the Mayor do something about this criminal activity. The Police know who these people are. The Mayor knows where these people live. I sent movies and images of the bikes and atvs when they were based on 79 Hubinger st. Now they are on Edgewood. The police can easily look at the multiple images and movies and find these criminals. Lets get the owners of these property to stop their tenants from storing these illegal motor vehicles. I can't store an unregistered motor vehicle on my property.
You know it just a matter of time before something terrible happens. These masked criminals a reckless. It's just a matter of time before one of these hoodlums smashes into and innocent pedestrian or motorist. Who do you think is going to pay for their actions? WE ARE!!
Amd (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Andrushka (Registered User)
So, as you all probably know, in 2013 a coalition of community leaders, alders, city hall managers, and state representatives and senators were able to pass a state law allowing cities such as New Haven to raise the fee for repossessing a confiscated dirt bike/ATV to about $1500 (I forget the exact number but something in that ball park). Other legal options that were considered (based on the experiences of other cities (Philadelphia, Baltimore) trying to get the dirtbikes/ATVs off the streets): banning the sale of gasoline to dirt-bikes/ATVs, banning the sale of dirtbikes/ATVs, banning the ownership of dirtbikes/ATVs, and allowing police to seize any dirtbike/ATV within city limits. With the knowledge that NHPD, in prior years, seized upwards of 200 vehicles a year, but then returned the bikes quickly to their owners after a small fine ($50 or thereabouts) was paid, it seemed that a steep fine to repossess the bike would effectively take the vehicles off the streets without criminalizing the act (no New Haven delegation was going to get behind a law that criminalized juvenile activity).
The effectiveness of the law is a function of police intel and willingness to confiscate. If police have good information then it is a relatively easy (and for the police very satisfying) to bring out a flat bed impound the vehicle. The willingness and ability of neighborhood residents to effectively communicate the location of the vehicles (and their “owners”) has a dramatic effect on the local population of wild ATVs/dirtbikes. My neighborhood (Fair Haven along Front/Quinipiac) has witnessed a very significant reduction in ATV/dirtbike disturbances. Neighbors report and the police confiscate. It’s a simple and beautiful thing.
A helicopter to track and then locate where the ATVs and dirtbikes are housed would probably lead to a dramatic reduction in the population out in the Hill/Newhallville/Dixwell But really, if the neighborhood reports, the bikes should be taken off the street (if the NHPD station chief is on the ball and committed to the cause).
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Anonymous Hiker (Registered User)
Andrushka (Registered User)
Joseph (Guest)
Edgewood Villager (Registered User)
If you know where dirt bikes, quads and ATVs are garaged, report it to the New Haven Police Criminal Intel Unit. The officer in charge is:
Sergeant Karl Jacobson
New Haven Police Department
Criminal Intel Unit/Narcotics
One Union Ave, New Haven CT
phone: (203) 946-6098
Fax: (203) 946-6293
e-mail: kjacobson@newhavenct.net
He will respond to emails and calls. If you report a known ATV or dirt bike location to him, he will investigate and confiscate the machines.
Andrushka (Registered User)
SeeClickFix New Haven Nation, time to make some noise of our own. Spring has sprung and again dirtbikes are flying up and streets, through parks, and on sidewalks, terrorizing the city.
On April 28 (Thursday), give the mayor’s office (203 946-8200) to let her know that it’s time to track down the bikes and confiscate!! More calls equals more action and fewer dirtbikes on the streets!!
Andrushka (Registered User)
Closed Manager of Operations, Process Improvement - Transportation, Traffic, & Parking (Verified Official)