PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As the weather warms, Philadelphia police are ramping up efforts to combat the city’s all terrain vehicle and dirt bike problem.
Standing in front of well over 100 confiscated ATVs and dirt bikes at the police impound lot in Southwest Philly, Deputy Police Commissioner James Kelly announced a reinvigorated effort to curb the illegal use of off-road vehicles on city streets.
The rampant use of off-road vehicles, he says, is one of the most-reported quality of life problems in the city.
“People feel unsafe by it, people in many cases feel terrorized by it,” he told reporters. “They are stuck in their cars, these ATVs are riding around, recklessly riding on sidewalks.”
Kelly says that as temperatures rise, special details will be assigned to curb ATV and dirt bike use, adding that the city’s new mobile detail — increasing officer presence on the weekends — will also be able to help.
“We did a quick detail [Tuesday] and we were able to get about 15 vehicles off the street,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the weather last night we would have gotten 50 or more.”
Kelly said the drivers are given citations, the vehicles are confiscated — and about 80% of them end up demolished.