Illegal ATV’s and motorcycle dirt bikes driving recklessly is causing a major problem on Hartford Streets for not only neighbors, but police as well.
On Monday, 911 dispatchers received several calls from a Harvard Street neighborhood along New Britain Avenue with neighbors complaining about illegal ATV’s and off road motor bikes driving through. Photos exclusively given to NBC Connecticut show several lined up along Harvard Street.
Neighbors described the group as a nuissance, many of them revving their engines, getting on sidewalks and one of them even ran over a woman’s foot, according to one of the 911 calls received by dispatchers.
“Yeah it was a nasty night,” said Joseph Baker who watched the off-road motor bikes and ATV’s line up in front of his home.
He said it happens often, but he’s fed up with it because the reckless drivers terrorize neighbors like him.
“There’s a lot of kids in the neighborhood, there’s a lot of pets in the neighborhood you know and people walk their dogs, walk around and you know it’s just not safe," said Baker.
While Baker says he never saw police patrol the area after the 911 calls were made, police say they did.
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The biggest problems police face with these groups? They’re difficult to catch.
“I’ve been here 22 years. I’ve never seen a dirt bike or ATV pull over when an officer activates his lights and sirens and our cops on the street are powerless to do anything about,” said Deputy Chief Brian Foley with the Hartford Police Department.
With the department’s hands tied and residents', as well, Deputy Chief Foley said there’s one thing you can do to help police reduce the problem.
“We need to know where they park and where they’re stored. Those are the tips we need. We get so many calls about where the motorcycles are riding and where they are now but by the time our officers get there they’re long gone in most circumstances,” said Foley.
If you see this kind of activity in your neighborhood, police say regardless, you should call 911.
And again, investigators are asking anyone who has any information as to where these illegal ATVs and motorcycle dirt bikes are stored to call police.
