New Haven Coalition to Stop Illegal Traffic

The New Haven Coalition to STOP ILLEGAL TRAFFIC (SIT) on our streets had its second meeting on Sept. 18. Alderman Justin Elicker reported that since our meeting last month, the city has started a concerted effort to address the issue of dangerous and illegal use of dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles, and other illegal motorized vehicles on our streets. Currently, police do not have the authority to seize and hold illegally operated motorized bikes and ATVs. Therefore, violators can reclaim impounded vehicles shortly after being caught by paying a small fine to the towing company.
On September 18, 2012, SIT members decided that the quickest way to make our streets safer is to rally the community in support empowering the city to take more aggressive actions against illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs.

What the city is doing:
1. The Corporation Counsel (the lawyer for the city) has been directed to explore the legality of the city taking possession of non-registered dirt bikes, atvs, etc. that have been operated illegally and destroying them. Other enforcement ordinances are also being explored.
2. The City is in conversation with state legislators about state-level action.

What Coalition members and supporters are being asked to do:
a. Call the Office of the Mayor (203)946-8200 and tell the Mayor that you are concerned about this issue and that you want results by next summer 2013.
or
b. Write to the Mayor at MayorDestefano@newhavenct.net. You may want to include the following points:
“I am a concerned citizen who is frustrated by the increase in use of illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs on New Haven streets, inside New Haven Parks, and near playgrounds and other recreation areas. It is my understanding that the NHPD has a long standing no-chase policy, which I agree with given the chances that a chase could result in injury of an innocent bystander. However, more needs to be done. I support the city’s effort to create policies that will eliminate the reckless behavior before someone else is killed. We’ve had many close calls already in 2012; a little girl was hit by a dirt biker while waiting at a bus stop with her dad, and a dirt biker himself suffered life-threatening injuries after losing control of an unregistered illegally operated dirt bike. Please, do what is necessary. You have my support!"

Maybe the police are tolerating the park gathering on Chapel as better than the alternative.

The group's videos are posted on YouTube and they thank New Haven Police for not busting them at the end of one video.

The group is named 203BikeLife.

Here is video of the 203BikeLife Sunday's gathering at Chapel and the park near St. James.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMH9ISW_G_I

A fellow named Michael Cotto died in an accident on a motorcycle in West Haven recently and one of the ATV riders featured in the video above does a tribute ride in Cotto's honor on his ATV on I-91 in New Haven. Video of that tribute ride is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JatYaqxvjM&feature=BFa&list=UUZ3O4KTQpki9XOeGcoZjCTw

Story about motorcycle accident that killed Michael Cotto
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Police-Investigate-Fatal-Motorcycle-Crash-168409856.html

The risks to themselves and others doesn't seem to be high on the list -- the freedom and fun of riding, and developing trick skills on the bikes and ATVs seems to be valued much higher, judging by the videos.

I agree with you that a gathering at that park is slightly preferrable. The only problem is that the bikes and ATVs are not transported to the park by trailer, they are driven there. At the end of the first video, they leave, using city streets and yes, sidewalks, to head home.

Re Bike meetups at Destefano's house -- Me thinks DeStefano is already a member. His street name is DeS 101. He does very cool tricks on the ATVs and produces his own videos. His videos are some of the best -- as all the other riders are required to be in them or he confiscates their bikes. They also are big campaign contributors, of course.

Seriously though, these kids are incredibly athletically skilled, entrepreneurial in a way and risk takers. Surely they could be persuaded somehow to become involved in something really productive that can sustain them as adults using these skills and their initiative. Their parents are obviously wacked to have let them funnel so much talent for long enough to become virtuoso on these bikes instead of into something that would sustain them for a lifetime, on this side of the law.

Some parents absolutely waste their children.

The New Haven Coalition to STOP ILLEGAL TRAFFIC (SIT) on our streets had its second meeting on Sept. 18. Alderman Justin Elicker reported that since our meeting last month, the city has started a concerted effort to address the issue of dangerous and illegal use of dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles, and other illegal motorized vehicles on our streets. Currently, police do not have the authority to seize and hold illegally operated motorized bikes and ATVs. Therefore, violators can reclaim impounded vehicles shortly after being caught by paying a small fine to the towing company.
On September 18, 2012, SIT members decided that the quickest way to make our streets safer is to rally the community in support empowering the city to take more aggressive actions against illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs.

What the city is doing:
1. The Corporation Counsel (the lawyer for the city) has been directed to explore the legality of the city taking possession of non-registered dirt bikes, atvs, etc. that have been operated illegally and destroying them. Other enforcement ordinances are also being explored.
2. The City is in conversation with state legislators about state-level action.

What Coalition members and supporters are being asked to do:
a. Call the Office of the Mayor (203)946-8200 and tell the Mayor that you are concerned about this issue and that you want results by next summer 2013.
or
b. Write to the Mayor at MayorDestefano@newhavenct.net. You may want to include the following points:
“I am a concerned citizen who is frustrated by the increase in use of illegally operated dirt bikes and ATVs on New Haven streets, inside New Haven Parks, and near playgrounds and other recreation areas. It is my understanding that the NHPD has a long standing no-chase policy, which I agree with given the chances that a chase could result in injury of an innocent bystander. However, more needs to be done. I support the city’s effort to create policies that will eliminate the reckless behavior before someone else is killed. We’ve had many close calls already in 2012; a little girl was hit by a dirt biker while waiting at a bus stop with her dad, and a dirt biker himself suffered life-threatening injuries after losing control of an unregistered illegally operated dirt bike. Please, do what is necessary. You have my support!"

I would add to this list to alert the Street Outreach Workers (SOWs) and alert police to the resource that SOWs represent, if indeed the SOWs are not too overwhelmed dealing with kids with guns to attend to tnis as well. .

What we have to start realizing is that when we have the hardest knee-jerk desire for enforcement with issues regarding youth in this city (and I am among those that have that strong feeling about enforcement) that we check that, and always combine outreach any way we can.

The reason for this is idealistic AND pratical. We need to intervene when we see evidence of kids or young adults behaving in a way that would suggest their parents are out to lunch. Enforcement alone is NOT the answer. The tougher the enforcement, the more powerful the outreach component HAS to be.

For example, What about Lime Rock race track? Paul Newman loved that place, didn't he? And he loved kids too. Lime Rock and Watertown both have totally legal race tracks. These kids could be offered a series for ATVs and dirt bikes -- AND JOBS -- in exchange for a promise to stop raising hell on New Haven streets. This is about not killing spirits. These kids have spirits which, unfortunately, their parents have allowed them to invest in illegal activities.

I am for passing tougher laws but in CONJUNCTION with a WAY OUT for them.

Otherwise, we only kill their good qualities, discourage them. These are kids and very young adults - with lousy parents (presumably) - so lets think creatively and dynamically here.

Turns out that Milford has a legal place for ATVs and Dirtbikes to ride. That is some potential outlet anyway. I am still disgusted that parents would allow their children to throw away their kids' futures on this totally useless outlet for their obvious skills and obvious positive potentials -- anyone viewing the videos can not come away without a sense of the basic fundamental energy of these kids. To see it directed this way, especially in this day and age where livelihoods are so tough to come by, is such a total waste.

These parents should be sent to summer camp until they know how to live remotely, remotely, acceptably.

Tired of this issue? Then show your support this Tuesday 11/13 @ 6 p.m., all should attend, no excuses! If not you, and us, then who? Tell everyone you know and bring them along if needed--lets pack the room, this may be our only chance for this type of City-wide meeting. Please distribute widely.

via Alderman Justin Elicker:
"There will be a public hearing on the dirt bike ATV issue Tuesday, 11/13 at 6pm in Board of Aldermen Chambers at City Hall. It's an opportunity for people to express their concerns about the dirt bike issue and for the City to talk about what we plan on doing. Could you all help get the word out?"

I will be closing dirt bike/ATV complaints that pre-date the conclusion of the police undercover operation (see www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/9_arrested_in_dirt_bike_sting/). I do not expect the dirt bike/ATV issue to be completely solved, but it will be helpful to policing efforts to distinguish new reports from those before this recent operation.

Please open up new SCF issues as dirt bike/ATV issues re-occur.

- Rob Smuts, Chief Administrative Officer