Monroe County police chiefs and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office met Thursday to discuss the problem of illegal dirt bike and ATV riding on streets, beginning to work out a county-wide strategy to combat the problem.
Last month, two people were killed illegally riding dirt bikes on city streets. Riders on unregistered dirt bikes and ATVs ride in large groups by good weather, disrupting traffic, ignoring red lights, stunting and putting themselves and others at risk. When police try to chase them, they cut onto sidewalks and through back yards to get away.
Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan says the city has begun using drones to follow the riders back to where they gather. And the city is looking at copying laws used by the City of Buffalo to seize the bikes from illegal riders.
The Rochester City Council met in a work session Thursday to consider such a law introduced by Councilman Jose Peo.
In Buffalo, police automatically confiscate the bike when they catch a dirt bike rider on the street. The city charges a $2,500 impound fee to get the bike back, plus any fees needed to make it street legal and insured. Those amount to hundreds of dollars more. If the money isn’t paid within 60 days, Buffalo sells the bike to a scrapyard and has it crushed.
Cynthia Herriot-Sullivan says she likes that idea, as the city does’t end up having to keep dozens of bikes on its property.
The Rochester Law Department is also looking at how existing city laws aimed at getting rid of junk cars could be turned against illegal riders. They prohibit keeping an unregistered vehicle on your property and allow police to seize them.