INWOOD — Police put the brakes on illegal motorcyclists over the weekend, confiscating dozens of bikes in an Inwood sweep.
Focusing mainly on Dyckman Street and highway entrances and exits in the precinct, cops collected more than 40 motorcycles during the weekend operation, police sources said.
The sweep was carried out primarily by the 34th precinct but officers from other Northern Manhattan precincts helped out.
Residents said in an online forum that motorcycle riders were being stopped near Dyckman Street and checked for licenses. Those that didn't have the proper paperwork had their bikes collected.
"The police had a flatbed truck all loaded up with motorcycles and a bunch of young men standing around," Washington Heights resident Janet Loder told DNAinfo New York. "I didn't see anyone in handcuffs but the young men were upset."
Unlicensed motorcyclists have been a flashpoint in the 34th precinct, as police constantly work to safely crack down on them.
Police in upper Manhattan and The Bronx have struggled to find ways to take down riders without sparking a chase or endangering surrounding drivers and pedestrians. Many locals have been frustrated with bike riders who they say ride up on the sidewalks and speed through the streets, terrorizing other drivers and pedestrians.
In May, precinct commanding officer Deputy Inspector Barry Buzzetti told residents at a town hall meeting that the precinct had confiscated more than 20 bikes during the first half of the year.
