I thought of that, but at least it would slow the cars down. The dirt bikes are driving me crazy now that the weather is nice, but the cars speed through here year 'round.

Department of Public Works assigned this issue to Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking

Department of Public Works assigned this issue to Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking

This is a trafifc enforcement issue. NHPD will be notified.

Was the NHPD notified? Do they care at all? I stepped out of my house recently with my new baby in my arms and a guy on a dirt bike was speeding down the SIDEWALK right past us. And we live exactly one block from a police substation. This guy is often riding around out here going the wrong way down Elm and speeding up and down the sidewalks RIGHT NEXT TO THE POLICE STATION. No one bothers to do anything about it. What happens when he runs somebody over?

Hey ClickFixers, time to start writing and e mailing the mayor’s office. Read below for details on the coalition to Stop Illegal Traffic (SIT)

New Haven Coalition to Stop Illegal Traffic

The New Haven Coalition to STOP ILLEGAL TRAFFIC (SIT) on our streets had its second meeting on Sept. 18. Alderman Justin Elicker reported that since our meeting last month, the city has started a concerted effort to address the issue of dangerous and illegal use of dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles, and other illegal motorized vehicles on our streets. Currently, police do not have the authority to seize and hold illegally operated motorized bikes and ATVs. Therefore, violators can reclaim impounded vehicles shortly after being caught by paying a small fine to the towing company.
On September 18, 2012, SIT members decided that the quickest way to make our streets safer is to rally the community in support empowering the city to take more aggressive actions against illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs.

What the city is doing:
1. The Corporation Counsel (the lawyer for the city) has been directed to explore the legality of the city taking possession of non-registered dirt bikes, atvs, etc. that have been operated illegally and destroying them. Other enforcement ordinances are also being explored.
2. The City is in conversation with state legislators about state-level action.

What Coalition members and supporters are being asked to do:
a. Call the Office of the Mayor (203)946-8200 and tell the Mayor that you are concerned about this issue and that you want results by next summer 2013.
or
b. Write to the Mayor at MayorDestefano@newhavenct.net. You may want to include the following points:
“I am a concerned citizen who is frustrated by the increase in use of illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs on New Haven streets, inside New Haven Parks, and near playgrounds and other recreation areas. It is my understanding that the NHPD has a long standing no-chase policy, which I agree with given the chances that a chase could result in injury of an innocent bystander. However, more needs to be done. I support the city’s effort to create policies that will eliminate the reckless behavior before someone else is killed. We’ve had many close calls already in 2012; a little girl was hit by a dirt biker while waiting at a bus stop with her dad, and a dirt biker himself suffered life-threatening injuries after losing control of an unregistered illegally operated dirt bike. Please, do what is necessary. You have my support!"

Does New Haven Coalition to Stop Illegal Traffic have a Facebook page or website? (Is this group different from the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition? Or a sub-committee of the latter?)

@Chris: we are starting a Facebook page soon. We are not part of Safe Streets though one of their member has been involved and attended our meetings (we've only had two so far). We are nothing more than a group of about 10 New Haven residents from as many neighborhoods with no political ties that decided that we'd like to find sustainable solutions (e.g. through local ordinances and such) to this rampant and reckless use of uninsured and unregistered dirt bikes and off-road vehicles across our City.

Currently, police do not have the authority to seize and hold illegally operated motorized bikes and ATVs. Therefore, violators can reclaim impounded vehicles shortly after being caught by paying a small fine to the towing company. This coupled with a no-chase policy (which we agree with--we don't want high speed chases of our youth in urban areas) makes for a problem that is seriously difficult to contain.

Please announce here when you have a FB page--and when/where your next meeting will be held. At our Neighborhood Management Team meetings this is consistently THE most-complained about issue. "Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced." Albert Einstein

Chris, for now there are no meetings planned, our main objective is to make our voices heard loud and clear. It's time for the Mayor's Office to stop passing the buck back and forth to the NHPD. Their hands are tied on this issue, there are no laws in place that prevent the cycle from stopping. Too easy to get your bike back if you're caught. For now, we ask you to diffuse the Call to Action document above as far and wide as possible within your community. Tell someone, and have that person tell another, and so forth. Thank you.

The New Haven Coalition to STOP ILLEGAL TRAFFIC (SIT) on our streets had its second meeting on Sept. 18. Alderman Justin Elicker reported that since our meeting last month, the city has started a concerted effort to address the issue of dangerous and illegal use of dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles, and other illegal motorized vehicles on our streets. Currently, police do not have the authority to seize and hold illegally operated motorized bikes and ATVs. Therefore, violators can reclaim impounded vehicles shortly after being caught by paying a small fine to the towing company.
On September 18, 2012, SIT members decided that the quickest way to make our streets safer is to rally the community in support empowering the city to take more aggressive actions against illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs.

What the city is doing:
1. The Corporation Counsel (the lawyer for the city) has been directed to explore the legality of the city taking possession of non-registered dirt bikes, atvs, etc. that have been operated illegally and destroying them. Other enforcement ordinances are also being explored.
2. The City is in conversation with state legislators about state-level action.

What Coalition members and supporters are being asked to do:
a. Call the Office of the Mayor (203)946-8200 and tell the Mayor that you are concerned about this issue and that you want results by next summer 2013.
or
b. Write to the Mayor at MayorDestefano@newhavenct.net. You may want to include the following points:
“I am a concerned citizen who is frustrated by the increase in use of illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs on New Haven streets, inside New Haven Parks, and near playgrounds and other recreation areas. It is my understanding that the NHPD has a long standing no-chase policy, which I agree with given the chances that a chase could result in injury of an innocent bystander. However, more needs to be done. I support the city’s effort to create policies that will eliminate the reckless behavior before someone else is killed. We’ve had many close calls already in 2012; a little girl was hit by a dirt biker while waiting at a bus stop with her dad, and a dirt biker himself suffered life-threatening injuries after losing control of an unregistered illegally operated dirt bike. Please, do what is necessary. You have my support!"

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?"

Sick and tired of the unregistered, uninsured, unlicensed, vroomm-vroomm-vrooomm? Then sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/state-of-connecticut-general-assembly-new-haven-office-of-the-mayor-stop-the-use-of-illegally-operated-vehicles-on-new-haven-streets-and-parks

Sick and tired of the unregistered, uninsured, often unlicensed, vroomm-vroomm-vrooomm? Then sign the petition! http://www.change.org/petitions/state-of-connecticut-general-assembly-new-haven-office-of-the-mayor-stop-the-use-of-illegally-operated-vehicles-on-new-haven-streets-and-parks

This issue was recategorized from Public Space & Streets to Policing Issue.