NYPD cracks down on illegal scooters and dirt bikes

Eliecer Marte
·2 min read
16
NYPD cracks down on illegal scooters and dirt bikes

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — The NYPD is cracking down on the illegal use of mopeds, ATVs, motorcycles, and scooters that they say are being used to commit crimes.

These crimes are even impacting delivery workers who say they need these vehicles to make a living.

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The NYPD is using air support to follow those individuals riding these vehicles until they get off from them and that’s when the apprehension happens. Based on statistics provided by the NYPD, the Bronx is where most vehicles have been confiscated so far this year.

“We have taken 9500 scooters, dirt bikes, and ATVs off the streets since January 1 until now. Out of those 9500, 2500 in the Bronx alone”, said Kaz Daughtry, Deputy Commissioner of Operations.

Last Tuesday night, a man was killed and three were injured when four individuals on two scooters shot them.

It happened in the Mount Edan section of the Bronx, not too far from where Nanny Peralta lives. “Walking and being terrified because you don’t know if one could just zoom right pass you,” said Peralta.

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Additionally, delivery workers like Bryan Mejia say that he is afraid to be out on the streets as he feels he can be targeted both by police and criminals.

The NYPD shared pictures with PIX11 of a 10-day operation last week where they confiscated 1,670 mopeds, motorcycles, ATVs, and dirt bikes across the five boroughs.

When asked if these types of vehicles have led to an increase in shootings in the Bronx, one resident who owns two mopeds himself, says he believes that to be the case. “Yeah, it has,” said Christopher Russel. “People are on mopeds with ski masks. They just go around doing what they do.”

According to the NYPD, so far this year, they have arrested 1,300 people who they say use these vehicles to commit crimes.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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