UPPER MANHATTAN — Police seized 14 illegal motorcycles in Northern Manhattan over Labor Day weekend as part of a crackdown on illegal bikes, police said.
According to Police Officer Hadee Pabey of the 34th Precinct, police confiscated motorcycles that were unlicensed or whose owners had improper registration or insurance.
“The motorcycles contributed to noise pollution as well as create hazardous and dangerous conditions,” Pabey wrote in an email.
Over the weekend, residents reported seeing a group of motorcyclists riding through neighborhoods like the Upper West Side and East Harlem, as well as Inwood and Washington Heights.
Many said the riders blew through red lights, rode on sidewalks and harassed pedestrians.
Washington Heights resident Julissa Duboney said she watched the bikers do tricks while riding on the sidewalk near Dongan Place in Inwood, narrowly missing pedestrians who were walking nearby.
“It just felt unsafe,” she said. “They’re nuts, they just rode wherever they wanted.”
Residents have long complained of dangerous and possibly illegal motorcycles in the area that ride late into the night and keep residents awake.
Earlier this year police said they would be cracking down on illegal motorcycle riding throughout the 34th Precinct and announced they had removed approximately 40 illegal bikes during an earlier sweep this summer.
“Rest assured that this will be a continuing effort,” Pabey said.
