Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce, who chairs the City Council Subcommittee on Public Safety, and Deputy Chief David Martin joined at Greenleaf Community Center on Wednesday afternoon to announce enhanced patrol and enforcement of illegal dirt bikes on public streets. Shout out and thank you to Stephen Athas for his continued dedication to our Greenleaf Community Center.
The Springfield Police Department regularly receives complaints of illegal dirt bikes or Off-Highway-Vehicles (OHVs) riding in the streets of Springfield in which the riders put the lives of others and themselves at risk. With this concern usually exacerbated in the warmer weather months, Mayor Sarno, Superintendent Akers, and City Councilor Click Bruce are coming together to share that the city will be enhancing patrols and enforcement of illegal dirt bike activity.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “Our public streets are no place to ride these vehicles. It is illegal and you can get seriously injured or worse. We will continue enforcement in the name of public health, public safety, and for the quality of life for our residents and business community. I deeply appreciate Ward 5 City Councilor and chair for the Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee Lavar Click-Bruce for bringing attention to this issue that we here concerns on from throughout the city.”
Mayor Sarno continued, “I commend and thank our Springfield Police Department, under the leadership of Police Superintendent Larry Akers, and our partners in the MA State Police and Sheriff Nick Cocchi and team for their anti-dirt bike details and tracking efforts to eradicate these illegal dirt bikes and ATV marauders on our city streets and neighborhoods. Our brave and dedicated men and women in Blue will continue to actively enforce this quality-of-life issue and cite, arrest, and confiscate these illegal vehicles. I again, ask parents of these young riders to intervene with their child, for their own health and safety, and help educate them on the appropriate places to ride and enjoy these vehicles. In the meantime, we need the Courts to back our local Police Departments and hold individuals accountable, and for our State Legislature to pass our proposed legislation to destroy these illegal dirt bikes and ATVs. If they do, believe you me, I’ll be the first one to take a sledgehammer to them.”
Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers stated, “Over the past few years, our officers have used different strategies to combat the illegal riding of dirt bikes and Off-Highway-Vehicles. Five-six years ago, this was the number one quality of life complaint in the city. The last few years the calls have dwindled as our officers have seized dozens of dirt bikes and made numerous arrests. As the weather warms up, our officers will once again be out with specialized OHV enforcement details. We urge riders to think about the consequences, not only of an arrest, but these vehicles are just not safe on city roads as we have seen numerous crashes and fatalities involving OHV’s in the past few years. It’s just not worth it.”
Ward 5 City Councilor, Chair of the Public Safety Committee Lavar Click-Bruce stated, “I have heard from many constituents regarding the street takeover of the illegal dirt bikes, and as some of you may have seen the TV reports about street takeovers that are occurring not just here in Springfield but frankly throughout the nation. Illegal Dirt Bikes cause so much danger on our roadways; our motorists who are following the law are then put in precarious positions. SPD is then put in a tough position.”
Councilor Click Bruce elaborated, “I find the actions of these motorists to be really dangerous. They run a lot of red lights. They are riding in the bike lanes, and cutting cars off when the light turns green, such actions as these are very dangerous for pedestrians as well as motorist.”
“I want to thank Mayor Sarno, Superintendent Akers and the Springfield Police Department, as well as Sheriff Nick Cocchi and State Police who have helped decrease the number of illegal dirt bikes on our streets. The weather will be getting nicer and we want to send a message the City of Springfield will not tolerate it!”
Read more about the efforts of SPD's Anti-Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV)/Dirt Bike public safety details:
- Springfield Police Seize 14 Off-Highway Vehicles During Anti-Dirt Bike Details – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Seize 13 Off-Highway Vehicles during Anti-Dirt Bike Details – Springfield Police Department
- SPD Officers Seize Three Dirt Bikes Wednesday – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Officers Seize Illegal Dirt Bike, Crack-Cocaine – Springfield Police Department
- SPD Officers Seize Dike Bike During Illegal OHV Detail – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Seize Five Illegal Dirt Bikes – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Officers Seize Two Dirt Bikes During Anti OHV/Dirt Bike Public Safety Detail – Springfield Police Department
- Can-Am Maverick’s are Not Street Legal in Massachusetts – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Officers Seize Dirt Bike During Anti OHV/Dirt Bike Public Safety Detail – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Continue to Seize Illegal Dirt Bikes – Springfield Police Department
- Springfield Police Officers Seize Three Quads During Anti OHV/Dirt Bike Public Safety Detail – Springfield Police Department
- SPD Anti-OHV/Dirt Bike Detail leads to the Recovery of a Dirt Bike – Springfield Police Department
