Springfield officials work to get illegal dirt bikes off city streets
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – As the weather becomes warmer, the city of Springfield once again is enhancing enforcement against illegal dirt biking, which has been an ongoing traffic safety issue for the community.
City officials are also renewing their calls to lawmakers to get a petition passed, which would allow them to destroy confiscated bikes.
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'The weather has warmed up, and unfortunately, these marauders will continue their negative actions,' said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
The city of Springfield is springing into action once again to get illegal dirt bikes off city streets, and the efforts are ramping up with increased patrols and partnerships with other law departments, including the State Police Air Wing Unit.
'We have C-3, we have Metro, we have Traffic, we have Ordinance,' said Deputy Chief David Martin. 'It goes beyond just the normal deployment hours. We are going up to 24 hours looking for these things.'
Springfield has been dealing with this ongoing traffic safety issue for a few years now, but since 2021, calls and incidents have decreased. In 2024, 39 off-highway vehicles were seized, 14 arrests were made, and 10 criminal complaints were reported.
Compare that to 2023, when 53 off-highway vehicles were seized, 26 arrests were made, and six criminal complaints were reported. But as police begin cracking down on this crime, they warn motorists not to engage with the bikers and to contact police immediately.
'Drivers or other motorists, try to confront the bikers by themselves, and it doesn't turn out the way you want it to turn out, so please be patient,' said Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers.
City officials also told 22News that they are working with state lawmakers to try and pass a petition to get the illegal bikes off city streets once and for all and avoid having to put them up for auction, where they often go back into the wrong hands.
'Reached out to State Rep Orlando Ramos who had kindly introduced this while he was on city council,' said Springfield City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce. 'We are going to refile to petition to again destroy these illegal dirt bikes.'
Springfield Police are asking people to contact their non-emergency number at 311 or the Traffic Bureau to report illegal dirt bikes.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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