End of the road for some dirt-bike and ATV riders as BPD cracks down on illegal on-road use

Boston Police report a weeklong crackdown on weaving, stunting dirt bikes and ATVs and their drivers.

Between May 8 and May 15, police say, they arrested 18 people and seized 30 dirt bikes, mopeds and ATVs.

Officers are banned from chasing stunters through traffic because of the risk of causing crashes, but they are free to go after people on bikes and ATVs who have come to a stop - or who lead them to caches of the vehicles in backyards.

Among the incidents cited by police:

At about 7:45 PM on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, officers assigned to the Auto Theft Unit made an onsite arrest and recovered illegal dirt bikes in the area of 52 Hecla Street in Dorchester. While on patrol in the area of Park Street in Dorchester, officers observed two individuals operating dirt bikes without their helmets. Officers further observed the individuals going through red lights, weaving in and out of traffic, and traveling on the wrong side of the road all while operating at a speed greater than reasonable. Officers observed multiple vehicles move out of the way due to the operators’ unpredictable movements. The operators were observed lifting the front wheel of the dirt bikes and weaving from side to side on Adams Street before quickly turning onto Hecla Street where they brought the dirt bikes to the rear of a residence on the street. One of the males hurriedly entered the residence while officers were able to take the second male into custody. The other male was identified and issued a citation. Officers impounded the two dirt bikes as well as a moped which were located in the rear of the residence on Hecla Street.

Also:

At about 7:49 PM on Friday, May 15, 2020, officers assigned to the B-3 (Mattapan) Auto Investigations Unit responded to a radio call to assist another unit with a vehicle investigation in the area of 8 Elwyn Road in Dorchester. On arrival, officers observed a male in the rear of the aforementioned location revving the engine of a yellow dirt bike. The male fled the residence as officers continued their investigation, locating the yellow dirt bike, as well as two additional dirt bikes and a moped from the rear of the residence. All four of the recreational vehicles were towed from the scene.