On Wednesday, June 5th, New York City Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Kaban visited a landfill on Staten Island, where they destroyed 200 illegally seized lightweight motorcycles and announced a summer crackdown initiative.
“Public safety is not just about statistics, it’s a reality that needs to be felt by the people,” Mayor Adams stated in front of the pile of motorcycles set to be destroyed. He emphasized that the issue of lightweight motorcycles and mopeds not only relates to public safety but is also a matter of quality of life.
“These vehicles not only pose a danger to pedestrians when driven recklessly, but we have also seen a tremendous increase in criminals using them for theft,” he said. “That’s why the NYPD is enhancing its summer enforcement strategies to curb the use of these illegal and unregistered vehicles.”
In 2023, the NYPD seized a record-breaking 18,430 unregistered motorized scooters, bicycles, and ATVs, marking the highest figure in New York City’s history. As of now this year, they have already confiscated 13,000.
Mayor Adams also mentioned that two police officers were shot while attempting to stop a reckless motorcycle rider last Sunday, highlighting the close connection between lightweight motorcycles and crime.
According to police data, since 2022, street robberies and home invasions involving the use of these lightweight motorcycles have been on the rise. In the first five months of that year, there were 10 incidents, which escalated to 104 in the same period in 2023. So far this year, there have been 79 robbery cases involving small motorcycles.
Police explained that these vehicles allow criminals to attack victims without getting off the bike, facilitate quick getaways, and even enable a partner to be on the back seat during the crime.
Mayor Adams stated that the city administration wants to send a clear message to the public: these illegal motorcycles have no place in New York, and no one is exempt. “If you ride an illegal vehicle, you will face consequences, and your vehicle will face consequences too.”
The Police Commissioner mentioned that law enforcement strategically increased patrols in areas and times with high incidents, deployed “community response teams” in collaboration with the Department of Transportation to concentrate on clearing these illegal vehicles, and set up checkpoints on bridges and major intersections in five districts. Confiscated motorcycles and other illegal vehicles will be destroyed, and materials will be recycled.
In addition, Mayor Adams has been working with the state legislature to require registration of these vehicles at their point of sale, in an effort to curb the proliferation of small motorcycles on the streets. Businesses that fail to register these vehicles will face penalties.