Monroe County police chiefs and the Sheriff's Office met today (Thurs) to consider a uniform approach to the problem of people illegally riding dirt bikes and ATVs on public streets.
Two people were killed last month riding unregistered dirt bikes on city streets. Groups of riders have blocked traffic and slammed through red lights in Rochester, Irondequoit and other towns causing a public hazard.
Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan told City Council Thursday afternoon that all departments in the county have similar problems, and they want to work out a uniform approach to the problem.
City Council was holding a work session on a possible law similar to one in Buffalo that confiscates bikes from violators. Buffalo charges a $2,500 impound fee, plus all the fees needed to make the bike or ATV street legal. If that's not done, they send the bike to a scrapyard after 60 days and have it crushed. Chief Herriott-Sullivan says she likes the approach.
Rochester police are beginning to use drones to follow the dirt bikes and ATV riders home, so the vehicles can be seized. Police don't give chase to the riders because they just go off road onto sidewalks or through yards.