CIVIC CENTER — The NYPD has started seizing more illegal motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs ahead of the summer months and plan to have a “crush-in” where they will publicly destroy the vehicles later this spring, officials said Monday.
Police have already seized 312 bikes and ATVs so far in 2016, more than double the number taken during the same period last year, and plan to raid storage facilities where the vehicles are kept and set up check points to arrest drivers, according to Chief of Patrol Carlos Gomez.
“They are not going to be too happy when we take those damn things and crush them,” Commissioner Bill Bratton said during a press conference at One Police Plaza Monday.
The commissioner went on to call riders “knuckleheads” who “are showing off in a pack mentality.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the riders were “dangerous” and that they wanted dissuade people from taking part in rallies by destroying the seized bikes.
“We are going to crush them on TV to make a point,” he said.
The NYPD will look at social media to spot when rallies occur and respond to 311 and 911 calls about reckless dirt bike and ATV driving in the streets, according to Gomez.
“We apprehend when it’s safe to do so,” Gomez said, adding that he has a “no-chase policy” because of safety concerns.
“We do not want to chase these individuals through the streets,” the chief said. “I believe that causes a greater danger to motorists, pedestrians and [riders].”
Bratton said about 80 percent of bikes seized were not returned to their owners, and that he would like to get that number up to 100 percent.
Precincts will also Tweet about seizures using the hashtag “UseItAndLoseIt” as another way to dissuade potential stunt drivers.
#NYPD will also have precincts tweet out pics of bikes and ATVs they seize using hashtag #useitandloseit https://t.co/WKxvM7dYki
— Ben Fractenberg (@fractenberg) April 4, 2016
De Blasio also said he sees the initiative as part of his Vision Zero program.
"They don’t belong in New York City," the mayor said. "We’re coming for them. We are going to be very aggressive."
