A large herd of dirt bikes on Front Street going towards Grand Ave, about 9pm. I agree with Jmbh, when does it end? They terrorize the neighborhood by hijacking the streets and sidewalks.

Here are some of the same kids riding tonight on public sites like Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfYk4xWJlsA

Same bikes (even most residents can point them out by now), same kids, same routes, not sure what else it takes--beyond a high quality video showing your face while breaking the laws--to get you arrested in New Haven.

5 year old struck by dirt biker who fled scene: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Boy-Struck-by-Dirt-Bike-Rider-Flees-the-Scene-206685141.html

Happened in Philadelphia this month; are we waiting for the same in New Haven? We've already had children struck while waiting at bus stops.

Was crossing Grand Ave Bridge towards Front St around 9pm and almost hit a couple dirt bikers... it was a large group of kids/teenagers riding dirt bikes very aggressively and fast, taking up both lanes of traffic... doing wheelies, etc. When will this stop? I would feel horrible if I actually hit one of them by accident. I see multiple NH cop cars everywhere else around New Haven except in the Chatham Square and adjacent neighborhoods... where are the walking cops, too?

We need to get these kids to be productive... What can the city do for them? How else can they occupy their time?

When do the higher fines go into effect?

Seriously, a BIG quality of life and safety issue. Does someone have to get run over and killed for this to be dealt with? The city and NHPD need to invest some manpower and attn to this. If not, they are creating, not merely allowing, this "wild west" of a city, where scofflaws rules, law-abiding citizens will not want to live or shop (ie, spend $$) here, and those "kids" will turn into criminals as they get older, since they were taught that they can do what they want, when they want, no matter how it affects their community. Please stop this! Atv's and dirt bikes are NOT for urban use!

Here is the futuristic (fake) news story that will actually have to happen one day for authorities to DO SOMETHING other than yadda yadda yadda. We all know that someone will have to be mortally wounded (probably an innocent child) before anyone does anything. I personally witnessed this exact scenario below near a school -- it was HALF A SECOND that the biker missed mowing down this little boy. A half a second later, this would have been that boy's obituary. This boy's life was saved by a wisp of fate; it was a space the size of a feather between him and the machine barreling past him.

Eight-Year-Old Boy Mowed Down by Teen on Dirtbike

A New Haven boy on his way home from school was killed crossing Whatever Street yesterday when an illegal dirtbike ran a red light and mowed the boy down.

The dirtbike rider sustained no injuries and fled the scene, authorities told The Gotham City Bugle. The eight-year-old boy's red Spider-Man backpack could still be seen in the road after his body was removed, his books strewn across the road and dotted with blood.

"We've begged authorities for years to stop these packs of dangerous bikers," the boy's mother cried to news cameras after hearing of her son's death. "Maybe now they'll listen. Why does it have to take the death of my baby to stop this?"

Added a neighbor, "It's the same kids all the time. They travel in gangs and terrorize the city. I've seen them nearly kill the elderly, kids, parents, dogs...they race around with impunity and no one ever does anything. They know they can get away with it, so they just laugh as they ride by."

In light of the child's death and subsequent protests and vigils in his name, New Haven Police guy So-and-so Esserman vowed to crack down on these gangs. "We'll be adding extra patrols around the city in known areas at known times when these gangs operate. We'll be giving cops the power to stop these people before they even get on their bikes, and if they're driving dangerously through traffic, police will now communicate with eachother to track them throughout town until they're caught."

"We promise to spend more time stopping this embarrassment and less time hanging out at Pizza House."

Governor Dan whatshisname said, "I had no idea this was happening. We will enact laws immediately to stop this wanton terrorizing of the city streets. No more innocent people should die because of New Haven's apathy and abject incompetence. Between trips to Asia I will address the economic chasm that gives these families too much time, no hope and nothing to do. We hope then they'll stop raising little sociopaths--and the bike problem will be solved!"

**this is a fake story. Fake, fake fake**

I agree with LR it's not going to stop unless someone gets killed and even then unless its one of their buddies they won't care. This is one of the reasons I can't wait to buy a house and move out of new haven.

The State hasn't yet passed the legislation with the higher fines but it appears all but certain it will pass in the next couple of weeks. Please keep on calling the non emergency number (946-6316) to report the bikes. I know that it doesn't feel like anything gets done, but the PD are working on it and I will keep pushing the issue.

Justin Elicker
Candidate for Mayor
justin.elicker@elicker2013.com

Don't forget Lexington Ave. in all of this. Justin, the problem with passing legislation is can it be enforced. There's a law against talking on hand held cell phones when driving & it's rarely enforced. As a matter of fact, on numerous occasions, I have seen police officers doing this.

You are right NewHavenJude. I've been in a number of meetings with the New Haven Police Department and the City's legislative liaison for the State to hash out the enforcement part. The issue has been that, when the police confiscate a bike (which does happen on a regular basis), they don't have enough authority to hold on to the bikes. With the new higher fines, the violating bike owners will have to pay significant fees to get the bikes back. We advocated for the fees to be high so that the bike owners would not pay to get the bikes back and the police would hold them indefinitely. It's not a perfect fix, but we are confident it will help.

Justin Elicker
Candidate for Mayor
justin.elicker@gmail.com

Legislation, if passed, scheduled to take effect October 2013. Legislation only allows municipalities to raise their fines, New Haven will have to change its code to raise fines.

Justin has been key in pushing the legislation through. Kudos to him. But NHPF needs to make a public commitment to stop the illegal traffic. I want to see some municipal leadership on thus one.

Justin, why are you posting as a guest?? SCF won't give you your own account? Jane, I appreciate your fake news stories. Dirtbikers and ATV'ers already do damage that goes unknown, while they are riding the streets of NH at 2am. We don't know which trees, cars, pedestrians and other objects they might crash into during their rides.

Sorry about that BJG. I'm signed in now.

"Awww! This user has yet to report any issues." And only 1250 civic points?? Well, as long as you ride the bus, you're ok with me!

Thank you for your response, Justin.

I saw a 10yr old riding from Cedar Hill Ave, cross major traffic on State Street heading over to Clinton Ave yesterday at 4pm.

Three relevant links:

1. If you haven't and care to, please sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/state-of-connecticut-general-assembly-new-haven-office-of-the-mayor-stop-the-use-of-illegally-operated-vehicles-on-new-haven-streets-and-parks

2. The *fake* article above, is not so far from the truth here and in other cities, children are already being mowed down, see here: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9095635 and New Haven's version here: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/domestic_incident_etc/

3. Kickstarter backed documentary showing how bad this problem has gotten in Baltimore, from both riders' and PD side of the issue: http://technical.ly/baltimore/2013/02/05/12-oclock-boys-documentary-needs-30k-to-get-to-sxsw-kickstarter-of-the-week-video/

Maybe citizens should start taking matters into their own hands! Spray them all with hoses as the fly by! Sprinkle gravel in high riding areas hoping for a wipeout.
I don't feel it's the responsibility of the city or taxpayers to find things for them to do. That's what they have parents for. My child is being held hostage in his own home because he can't go out and ride his bike because of these domestic terrorists. I will continue to refer to these bikers as terrorists because they are hijacking OUR neigborhoods. My son was almost hit by one of these terrorists on the sidewalk near Criscuolo park. The fines are laughable!!! How will they get fined if police never catch them??? It doesn't pertain to ATVs either, that means they will all be quads by the end of the summer. Going rogue on Front Street!

@Frontstreeter: the 500+ residents that have signed the online petition are equally frustrated that, like you, we cannot seem to have simple peace and quiet and, open enjoyment of public spaces in our own neighborhoods, including parks, sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, and vehicular roads. We appreciate you speaking out and sharing your experiences.

However, I want to point out that there are two confirmed incidents on record where private citizens have had altercations, whether inadvertently or not, with dirt bikers or their crews where riders will not hesitate to engage in retaliatory acts:

1. Most recently clergyman Father James Manship was spat on:
http://www.wfsb.com/story/22108892/new-haven-man-accused-of-spitting-on-reverend

2. and perhaps most notoriously, in 2008, "A 15 year-old boy racing a stolen Honda dirt bike up and down Shepard Street ran into the back of a van. A crowd of his friends subsequently beat the driver, badly." http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/mayor_newhallville_beating_a_wake-up_call/

I am aware of both instances SIT mentions but lack of any dialogue from NHPD is extremely frustrating. I appreciate how hard they work to keep this city somewhat sane/safe but the terrorists continue to hijack our streets, sidewalks, and parks. The incident with my son is just a drop in the bucket in what I and others witness everyday. No end in sight on this issue. Petitions and lame legislation are moving too slow for a seriously urgent epidemic problem in New Haven. Too many close calls not enough action. This isn't a new problem, it's been going on for years.

petition drive to aldermen - done
town hall meeting with aldermen on dirt bikes - done
SIT petition to state legislature - done
legislation in state legilaslature to increase fines to get dirtbikes/ATVs to over $1000 - done
countless calls to police line - done

Will keep calling police line (203 946 6316).

And will start thinking of moving out of new haven this quality of life issue can't be solved in the next year or so. Do people in city hall really understand how crucial this issue is to the middle class in New Haven? Why pay taxes to a municipality that can't provide a minimum level of safety and peace of mind?

Older 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/) will be closed. We 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 operation.

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

Older 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/) will be closed. We 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 operation.

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