The ordinance was approved Monday, November 15th, by a vote of 11-0 and was signed by the Mayor on Tuesday, November 16th. The new ordinance is aimed to help crack down on illegal dirt bikes and other unauthorized vehicles that are prohibited on public roads. Per the ordinance, gas stations found in violation would receive a warning for their first offense and $100 fines for each subsequent violation.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank and commend the City Council, especially Councilor/Representative Orlando Ramos, who was the lead sponsor, for his efforts and leadership on passing this public safety and quality of life ordinance. This is yet another tool we can now use to crack down on these illegal dirt bikes. As Councilor/Representative Ramos indicated, Hartford and New Haven already have similar laws in place with little to no issues. We are not going to stand for this lawlessness, dangerous and disrespectful behavior; this is not ‘Mad Max Thunderdome’! I want to also thank our Springfield Police Department, State Police and Sheriff Nick Cocchi who have been good partners with our ongoing response to keep our residents and business community safe. Now we need our courts to back up our actions.”
Councilor/Representative Ramos stated, “I hope that this ordinance will make the streets a little safer. The goal is to work in partnership with the local gas station owners, and to give the police department the tools that they need to get these illegal vehicles off the road; and I think we’ve accomplished that.”
Mayor Sarno continues, “Additionally, back in August, Councilor/Representative Ramos and I met with city officials from Holyoke and Chicopee and those respective communities will sponsor similar legislation for their communities as part of our joint regional efforts to directly address and curb these illegal dirt bikes. I also remain hopeful that our home rule legislation, also sponsored and filed by Representative Ramos, to seize and destroy these illegal dirt bikes passes the State Legislature.”
State Representative Ramos has filed state legislation that would allow the Springfield Police Department to seize and destroy illegal and unauthorized vehicles that are found operating on public roads. The bill is currently pending before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
In addition, Mayor Sarno has asked Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood to have our brave and dedicated men and women in Blue to continue with their active enforcement response of tracking, monitoring, seizing and arresting these illegal street urban marauders.
