NYPD Reveals New Strategy In Wash Heights To Combat Dirt Bikes

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The upper hierarchy of the New York Police Department was in Washington Heights on Thursday to discuss the issue of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs on streets in the neighborhood and throughout the city.

Gathered outside the 33rd Precinct between 168th and 169th Streets, Chief of Department Rodney Harrison, Chief of Transportation Kim Royster and others officers joined the local precinct's Commanding Officer Charlie Bello for a press conference about new strategies to get the illegal vehicles off the street.

"As you know it is that time of the year again when we are threatened and plagued by illegal dirt bikes and ATVs all throughout the city," Harrison said to kick off the press conference.

Part of the new strategy from police is a simple one.

The NYPD is offering a $100 bounty for tips that help officers track down and confiscate the nuisance vehicles, Harrison said on Thursday.

Harrison urged New Yorkers with information about illegal dirt bikes and ATVs to call 1-800-577-TIPS. He said people riding such vehicles should stop, and if they're caught their bikes will be confiscated.

"It is not legal, it will go in the crusher," he said.

Watch as @NYPDChiefOfDept and other executives speak about illegal ATVs and dirt bikes.

See the full press conference with Q&A https://t.co/p6adLFPVMF pic.twitter.com/z1j8iTQd8N
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 20, 2021

Illegal vehicles are quickly becoming a leading issue in the city, but the problem of dirt bikes and ATVs is one that has been raging in the Upper Manhattan community since March 2020.

On May 4, the WaHi-Inwood Task Force on Noise released a battle plan of 29 recommendations to help alleviate noise issues expected for summer 2021, many of the suggestions had to do with more enforcement around motorized vehicles. Two weeks later, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer used some of those suggestions to pen a letter to the mayor and police commissioner with five possible solutions to get illegal dirt bikes and ATVs off the streets.

"With summer approaching, we must act quickly to prevent an ATV, dirt bike, or street racing-related tragedy – crashes have occurred in other cities," she wrote.

NYPD officials share those concerns.

Motorcycle crashes surged during the pandemic and claimed 51 lives, said Kim Royster, the NYPD's transportation chief. She said this year that 367 injuries have been reported from ATVs, dirt bikes and motorcycles, as well as eight deaths.

"These collisions are random, unpredictable but definitely preventable," she said.

Patch reporter Matt Troutman contributed to this report.