NYPD Attempts to Put the Brakes on Illegal Bikers

Several hundred ATV’s, dirt bikes and motorcycles head south down the Grand Concourse service road before turning onto Van Cortlandt Avenue on March 26. -Photo by David Greene

By David Greene

Bronx Voice

May 16, 2023

 

BRONX - Nearly a year after the NYPD rolled out a new initiative to help crackdown on illegal All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) dirt bikes and scooters-- NYPD's Community Response Team is back with 300-plus officers from around the city and are now working together to track and catch these dangerous riders.

During a press conference covering several different topics held at the Tweed Courthouse in Manhattan, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks lll and NYPD's Chief of Patrol John Chell addressed the hot-button issue.

Banks said, "We hear this time and time again from the residents that these vehicles are being driven recklessly around the neighborhoods and being operated at all hours of the night and people like myself are sick of it. They go against traffic, they ride on the sidewalk and when I was the Borough Commander in Manhattan, chief it was one quality of life issue that was actually the most challenging. You try and pull them over, they run. You chase them and put innocent people, potential lives in danger."

 

Chief Chell then said, "Last year in the summer we created a Community Response Team out of the Chief of Patrol's office, about 12 cops. We started bringing some cops in from around the city to help us out and we took over 10,000 ATV's, dirt bikes and illegal mopeds off the street. It was very successful. So, this year we made it official, we just rolled out in the beginning of April, every borough has a Community Response Team.

Chell went on to explain that each team consists of a lieutenant, two sergeants and 16 officers who go after the illegal riders, stolen cars and "ghost cars," vehicles with fake paper plates. The teams are then assisted by the New York State Police, NYPD's Aviation Unit, its own intelligence division as well as The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) who can shut down bridges and provide real time video to the NYPD.

"Last year," Chell continued, "On the FDR Drive I was nearly run over by one of these ATV's." Recalling an incident the previous night, Chell said, "Last night at about seven o'clock about 25 quads. the three-wheel quads came off the Brooklyn Bridge right by One P.P. (Police Plaza) I don't know if they were trying to send us a message." 

He continued, "Little did they know we were out there with Highway and Aviation, and we corralled every one of them on the FDR and we took all their bikes." 

Officers told Chell that a backup of commuters stuck in the traffic applauded the apprehensions.

 

Chell added, "That's a strong message, that's what we're doing and the best part of last night, no one got hurt, no chases." He noted that the NYPD has so far confiscated 860-plus illegal bikes since January 1st.

 

Banks then concluded, "We want these individuals to get a motorcycle license, purchase a motorcycle and operate your vehicle... but you can't do it in these streets."

 

Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference in Times Square that aired on social media, where the NYPD unveiled its new crime fighting robot and mentioned the new "Star Chase," a global positioning system technology. However, the technology was demonstrated off camera.

 

After another press conference where Mayor Adams and Chief Chell unveiled the public's version of the Star Chase device used to combat car theft when the Bronx Voice asked Chell how the system the NYPD now uses, works. He replied, "It's just a handheld device or a device on the front of a car and it shoots a sticky-glue device, and it hits the back of a car, it sets off a GPS so we can track the car," and followed by a helicopter and patrol cars closing in as the vehicles stop.

 

Chell was asked if the Star Chase technology works on illegal bikes, he replied, "Not allowed to use it on ATV's" or other types of bikes."

 

On March 26, a roving band of illegal bikers drove down the outer roadway and the sidewalk of the southbound Grand Concourse as they dangerously crossed, ignoring red lights and other vehicles. The riders crossed onto Van Cortlandt Avenue and into Norwood. According to police radio transmissions at the time, the NYPD had observed a large gathering of bikers at the Allen Shandler Recreation Area minutes before the large group came down the Grand Concourse.

After his officers confiscated 30 bikes in one day on April 2, 52nd Precinct Commanding Officer, Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin told the Bronx Voice, "It's crazy right. I love to take them. We were leading the city in the 5-2 last year, we had 540 for the year as the final number." He added, "This year we're looking to do the same. You know we're starting now with some initiatives, like I said this past Sunday we took 30 and we're going to continue. It's not only dangerous on the sidewalk, but they use them to commit robberies and other acts of violence, you know, around the community, so it's always been a priority for us."