Dirt bikes and ATVs have posed a problem for city offi cials. The issue
reached a low point last month when a 4 year-old was critically injured
by one. Photo Adrian Childress
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BY JASON COHEN
From popping wheelies,
to driving recklessly and riding
on sidewalks, illegal dirt
bikes and ATVS have wreaked
havoc on NYC streets. As a
result, members of the City
Council are demanding the
mayor take immediate action.
Through Aug. 14, a total
of 1,682 dirt bikes, ATVs, mopeds,
scooters and motorcycles
have been seized in 2021,
according to the NYPD. The
issue reached a tipping point
in July, when 4-year-old Jonathan
Beauchamp was hit by a
dirt bike in Queens and left in
critical condition.
In response, Councilman
Mark Gjonaj, a Democrat, announced
legislation, “Jonathan’s
Law,” on July 15 that
would double the fi nes and
penalties on individuals that
recklessly operate dirt bikes
and off-road vehicles.
However, the lawmaker
has continued to watch
these illegal bikes run rampant
throughout the city and
wants his legislation passed
and signed into law now. On
Aug. 19, he sent a letter along
with 23 council colleagues, demanding
Mayor Bill de Blasio
use his executive authority
to immediately enact “Jonathan’s
Law.”
“Today we call on the
mayor to use executive power,
not to wait for legal process to
sort itself out and to immediately
take action as we combat
this public health and safety
issue,” Gjonaj said at an Aug.
19 press conference. “These
dirt bikes and ATVs for the
fi rst quarter of the year have
already led to eight fatalities
and 350 injuries, that doesn’t
include the 4-year-old, which
this bill is being named after.”
Police are only able to seize
the bikes if they are tipped
off about where one is or if a
driver is refueling at a gas station.
However, if a bike is used
in a violent crime such as a
carjacking, then police are allowed
to pursue.
The District 13 councilman
said he understands the
NYPD is in a tough spot, but
hopes the legislation would
deter some people from operating
illegal vehicles. He
pointed out that not only dirt
bike riders speeding, but they
weave in and out of traffi c,
drive on sidewalks and pose
a danger to pedestrians and
drivers.
Gjonaj told the Bronx
Times he has never before
seen so many dirt bikes on
the roads. These motorists are
putting people’s lives at stake
and the mayor must act now,
he shouted.
“There’s no reason to delay
the executive action,” he
said. “This will make NYC
safe. We need to be able to pursue
and allowed to apprehend
these illegal dirt bikes.”
One of the elected offi cials
who signed onto the letter was
Democrat Councilman Eric
Dinowitz. Dinowitz, who represents
District 11, shared
Gjonaj’s anger about the dirt
bikes and added that not only
are they a danger on the road,
but a quality-of-life issue as
well. People should able to
sleep peacefully at night and
not be awoken by loud bikes
and ATVs, Dinowitz said.
“We hear all the time how
Bronxites are the toughest,”
he said. “No matter how tough
we are, so many New Yorkers
feel a sense of chaos and
lawlessness and nothing is
more demonstrative of the
lawlessness than the dirt bikers.
That’s why we’re calling
on the mayor to increase the
fi nes and enforce the law.”
Illegal dirt bike issue
reaches critical mass
/www.mmcc.org
