Task force launched to crack down on illegal dirt bikes

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A new law enforcement task force has been launched. It’s a collaboration among several western Massachusetts communities to get rid of illegal dirt bikes.

There’s also a push for new legislation to help police in the process and, while the policy hasn’t been filed yet, it’s being championed by Springfield officials, including the mayor.

Leaders from Springfield to Holyoke. and Chicopee to Ludlow sent a clear message: out with those illegal dirt bikes.

The hope is to get those dirt bikes off the street for good. It was titled ‘An Act Relative to the Use of Recreation Vehicles in the City of Springfield.’ It was filed in the State House before, but it didn’t get through the first time, so they’re back at the drawing board and are tweaking language. It still has to go through city council before it can be filed again.

The task force will allow those cities involved to work together to get as many dirt bikes off the road as the can.

They’ll use city cameras and even alert other cities as part of the collaboration when those bikes cross city lines.

The policy is still being worked out, but the aim is to fast-track how quickly these bikes get thrown off the street or destroyed after an arrest has been made.

Leading the charge Monday was Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, he wielded a sledgehammer he hopes to one day use to destroy those bikes once they are caught by police.

His message to drivers who’ve had to deal with these riders:

“If you run across these motorists, illegal dirt bikers and off-road vehicles on your city streets or your roads, you need to report it to the police. Call. The units are out there. They might not be able to get to them right away they start pinpointing and tracking and monitoring where they are.”

It was echoed by plenty of other officials including the State Police’s Air Wing, Ludlow Police, not to mention sheriff Nick Cocchi who sent a warning to riders:

“We are going to continue to fracture and destroy these illegal dirt bikes. If you think you can drive erratically, illegally, and terrify our community, you may get us Monday, you may beat us on Tuesday, we are getting you Wednesday.”

Sounding the alarm to police isn’t the only way to get out your frustrations.

We asked local viewers their thoughts on dirt bikers, and they didn’t hold back.

“I think that it can be a little dangerous when you’re driving down the road and they’re like going in between traffic, I’ve noticed that they don’t really abide by the laws motorcycles would.” Said Cody Minahan of Springfield

“I don’t think that a road is a place for them.” Said fellow Springfield resident Chelsea Permentier

“There is an incredible strategic coordination in the region to de-escalate these issues from happening.” Said Holyoke Mayer Joshua Garcia

Chicopee Mayor Jon Vieau wants everyone to know that this task force will be covering all of western Massachusetts.

“One of the messages out there for the people that ride those illegal dirt bikes is that there’s no tolerance for that in western Mass. It’s not just a Chicopee, no tolerance. It’s a no tolerance period.”

As you can imagine, some of the strategies these officers hope to use weren’t shared for confidential reasons.

“There’s places in Western Massachusetts where you can legally ride these bikes and ATVs and we encourage you to do so, but our city streets aren’t the place for that, if you want to try it, you’re not going to win.” Said Chief Brian Kennan of the Holyoke Police Department.

While the task force is currently ran by community leaders in western Massachusetts, they are trying to get the issue in front of the State House.