After much deliberation and observation of dirtbike/ATV problem in New Haven and history of legislative and law enforcement efforts to curb the activity, I've come to the conclusion that there is really only one solution: drones. Impoundment of bikes is only way to get them off the street (sorry all you intense law and order types, NHPD will never chase down and arrest dirt bikers, just not going to happen). For impoundment to happen, NHPD needs intel from community/neighbors. This is feasible in neighborhoods with a critical mass of people willing to work with NHPD. But dirtbike/ATV problem is unique in that it is so fluid/mobile within the city, bikers can move from their neighborhoods (safe havens) to other neighborhoods with considerable stealth. They are a constant and clever moving target. Only a drone has the capacity to follow them and then provide NHPD with intel to impound.

I know it sounds crazy. But in Baltimore they resorted to helicopters to pursue. Which in turn caused the bike gangs to use trailers to transport them to and from dirtbike/ATV rallies (when the police gave chase, they rode to a predetermined end point and loaded the bikes quickly onto trailers). But helicopters are a too heavy footprint; you know when a helicopter is above and surveying. Drones, on the other hand, can observe without spooking the target.

Odds are that NHPD will never have ability to use drones for surveillance.

Private citizens, however, are not prohibited from sending up a drone with a camera. And then passing info on location of bikes to NHPD.

Imagine if a few people set up their own drones on a summer weekend.

Just a thought....