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This needs to stop....so dangerous!

Does anyone know where they are coming from? There have been two red & white dirt bikes tearing up and down Poplar as well, and I think this is one of them. Any ideas anyone? Finding the house they're coming from would be a HUGE help to the police! I will post pics when I see them again; it's usually after dark and on the weekends.

Fabulous getting the pics! Congratulations and Thank You.

Lexington Ave. is also a favorite "speedway" for dirt bikes, cars, & motorcycles. The so-called speed bumps are so low that they deter NOTHING ~ if anything they entice dirt bikes, etc. to speed & go over them for fun. Myself & other neighbors have been complaining about this for years & nothing has been done.

Yeah, I see these kids on Clifton and 1st Ave in the Heights a lot. Are they the kids from 83 Clifton St.? It's been every weekend the last few weeks. Totally dangerous, totally stupid. Can't these bikes be confiscated?

Yes, the bikes can (and probably will) be confiscated.

Baltimore and Philadelphia are also plagued by the urban dirt bike wheelie culture. To the extent that Baltimore and the state of Maryland have passed specific legislation to combat the problem. They have banned the sale of dirtbikes and ATVs in the city limits of Baltimore, banned sale of gasoline to dirtbikes and ATVs (requiring gas stations to post large signs to this effect), and allowed police to confiscate any dirtbike or ATV that is not under lock and key.

I have had an e mail dialogue with one alderman who is interested in banning sales of dirtbikes in the pawn shops of New Haven. I encourage others to contact their aldermen to lobby for some legislative effort ban the sale of dirtbikes in New Haven.

andrushka, i couldn't agree with you more!!!!!!!

Yes, the bikes can be confiscated; this is why the police need the home address where the bikes are being kept. Banning dirt bikes might be a great tool, but I think we all know it won't solve the problem, which is why it's so important to report the storage location to the NHPD. The New Haven Independent has published articles about the police issuing 'ghost warrants' based on neighborhood surveillance of dirt bikers:

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/ghost_busters_work_on_foot/

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/cops_help_us_nab_dirt_bikers/

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/dirt_biker_pays_75._will_it_work/

Sometime after dark last night, as I was returning home on Lexington, a kid came speeding down Lexington doing wheelys over the useless "speed bumps". He had no light on the bike, no helmet, no reflective gear. If the bike wasn't so noisey, I would not have even seen him & something terrible could have happened? Does anyone in authority read these posts????? Will anything be done about this or are you waiting for someone to get killed???

I saw the guy in the pictures--or at least the same squat, red dirt bike--racing down Downing and doing wheelies like in the picture at approximately 8:00 p.m. Earlier, at about 6:00 p.m. while driving down Perkins, I saw a group of young men clustered around a lime green dirt bike in front of 88 Perkins. Shortly thereafter it came squealing down Grafton, turned left on Downing, and continued toward Q Terrace. Sadly, I couldn't report it until now. I will contact Sgt. Zona as soon as possible in the future.

The kid on the miniature dirt bike was heading down Lombard this evening, 7pm, between Poplar and Blatchley, and was heading west towards Humphrey. Less than 10 minutes later he was driving down Poplar St towards Lombard.

Again ~ Lexington Ave. is also where they speed. Don't know if it's the same guy in the pic but there's more than 1.

Are they required to have driving licenses? If not, why not?

Tonight at around 6:30 a group of four or five kids on dirt bikes were driving against traffic down Grand Avenue riding on and off the sidewalk and popping wheelies. I tried to get my phone out to take pictures but was too slow. I live on Quinnipiac Avenue and hear and see them constantly going up parts of Front Street and across the bridge up East Grand Avenue.

Same for Lexington Ave. last night. The night before it was past 10pm! Doesn't seem that commenting about this does any good.

Unfortunately, the dirt bike situation isn't getting any better as far as I can tell. I left a message for Sgt. Zona one evening when the bikers were still going strong close to 11:00 p.m. and had passed my house no less than three times. I know this is a tough situation to resolve safely, but these young guys are brazen, and, in addition to being noisy and disrespectful, they are going to really hurt themselves or someone else sooner than later.

It's not going to get resolved until we figure out where these bikes & perpetrators live. Even if you call the policy it's highly unlikely they will give chase--it's considered too dangerous and they haven't had as much success with that tactic anyway; it's easy to evade a car if you're on a dirt bike. I have one location I'm keeping an eye on, but more clues on the address of the dirt biker(s) would be the ultimate aid to the police.

This kid, and four of his friends, were riding on the sidewalk, on Willow St. @ Orange St., yesterday around 6:30pm.

I know that some on the board of alderman are interested in passing legilsation similar to what Baltimore and Philadelphia have to cut down on dirtbikes (ban sale of dirtbikes in city limits, give police the right to impound any dirtbike on sight, ban sale of gas to dirtbikes).

I encourage every one to write the alderman and ask them to pass similar legislation:
Sal Delola: Ward18@newhavenct.net
Gabriel Santiago: Ward14@newhavenct.net
Justin Elicker: Ward10@newhavenct.net
Jessica Holmes: Ward9@newhavenct.net

New Haven deserves better than these kids terrorizing the neighborhoods each evening.

These kids go from 80 cifton Street to Atwater as there main hang out points, they take off from Fair Haven when being chased by police back to Fair Haven Hts. They are obnoxious, rude ,ignorant and have been arrested many times. this is a very serious issue because it going to be tragic.
I think it has gotten so bad we need to come together in 3 wards with the police and figure out what can be done. They get arrested, pay a impound and ticket fee and on the streets again. The cops got bigger issue's to deal with. These bikes need to be kept by the police and burned,period. My name is Cecilia Proto, I have talked to Vinnie Anastasio, he gets them and they are out. Our next move is the court system. Call me, maybe we need to start a large campaign about this in each ward. 203 468 1472. They also have police scanners and know to call each spot.

Tired of this issue? Then show your support this Tuesday 11/13 @ 6 p.m., all should attend, no excuses! If not you, and us, then who? Tell everyone you know and bring them along if needed--lets pack the room, this may be our only chance for this type of City-wide meeting. Please distribute widely.

via Alderman Justin Elicker:
"There will be a public hearing on the dirt bike ATV issue Tuesday, 11/13 at 6pm in Board of Aldermen Chambers at City Hall. It's an opportunity for people to express their concerns about the dirt bike issue and for the City to talk about what we plan on doing. Could you all help get the word out?"

This issue was recategorized from Other to Policing Issue.

I will be closing dirt bike/ATV complaints that pre-date the conclusion of the police undercover operation (see www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/9_arrested_in_dirt_bike_sting/). I do not expect the dirt bike/ATV issue to be completely solved, but it will be helpful to policing efforts to distinguish new reports from those before this recent operation.

Please open up new SCF issues as dirt bike/ATV issues re-occur.

- Rob Smuts, Chief Administrative Officer