In any city like ours, full of gang activity, bandanas and anything else covering the face should be made illegal. Problem is, everyone is so scared to enact such laws, because then "community leaders" will cry racism. Our current liberal politically correct climate makes this possible. Whitey is too afraid to be called racist, so this problem will persist. Not taking anything away from the good work done by the NHPD - they were somewhat effective. But now those who enact laws need to see this problem for what it is - a gang issue - and make the change. I see Bloods on Dixwell wearing bandanas over their faces in summer. That's neither normal nor necessary.

This issue was recategorized from Other to Policing Issue.

acknowledged

A similar ATV rode into the street directly into the path of my moving car the WRONG WAY on George St. (I had to hit the brakes to avoid a collision). The scary thing was that one of the passengers on the ATV was maybe 10 years old, and wearing only a helmet, no other safety gear.

Also, they were driving the WRONG WAY into traffic. Insane. There's no way city use of those vehicles can be legal.

If you know where dirt bikes, quads and ATVs are garaged, report it to the New Haven Police ATV hotline at (203) 946-6098. Or, call your NHPD district manager. By reporting where these cars ATV and dirt bikes are stored, your district manager can build a case for getting a search warrant and eventually they will be able to confiscate the machines. But, first they need to build a case. They need to gather evidence.

For example, in the Edgewood/Dwight Neighborhood it is Sgt. Steve Torquati at (203) 946-7597. In the Whalley, Edgewood, Beaver Hills (WEB) Neighborhood it is Lt. Makiem Miller at (203) 589-3318 or mmiller@newhavenct.net. They will investigate and can confiscate the vehicles.

You can also contact your LCI neighborhood specialist. In Edgewood/Dwight, contact Tracy Claxton at (203) 946-2857 or TClaxton@newhavenct.net.

Then, contact your alderman to put pressure on the city to make this issue a priority for the police. The Edgewood ward is ward 24: call Evette Hamilton at (203) 508-5426 orWard24@newhavenct.net.

To find your NHPD district manager, LCI representative, district management team chairperson and know when your neighborhood meetings are held see:
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/uploads/neighborhood%20specialist%20and%20LT_updatedMARCH_2015(1).xls

Here is the list of Aldermen by Ward:

http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/aldermen/index.asp

If you want IMMEDIATE action, call the non-emergency (dispatch) NHPD phone number at 203-946-6316. Tell the dispatcher that your district manager (use their name) said to call and have some patrols sent to your area. Then ask the responding officer to CALL YOU BACK. This is very important. Otherwise, you call will fall into a black hole. By asking for a call back you are ensuring that the NHPD will take action and then be held accountable to you for what action is taken.

We need enough people to report these illegal machines, call the police, and work with their NHPD district managers. There are 100,000 of us in this city and only 100 or so of these dirt bike and ATV riders who are ruining our quality of life. We all need to raise this issue with our police and city government. With enough pressure, laws will change and policing tactics will adjust.

If you know where dirt bikes, quads and ATVs are garaged, report it to the New Haven Police Criminal Intel Unit. The officer in charge is:

Sergeant Karl Jacobson
New Haven Police Department
Criminal Intel Unit/Narcotics
One Union Ave, New Haven CT
phone: (203) 946-6098
Fax: (203) 946-6293
e-mail: kjacobson@newhavenct.net

He will respond to emails and calls. If you report a known ATV or dirt bike location to him, he will investigate and confiscate the machines.

Thank you for your participation in the constructive dialogue regarding this issue. As The New Haven Police Department does not actively monitor this site, we ask that future incidents be reported directly through the NHPD non-emergency line at (203)946-6316.
For information on storage locations of ATVs and other illegal vehicles, please call (203)946-6098 (reports can be made anonymously). Community members are always welcome to notify their respective District Manager; however, it’s important that people don’t telephone their District Manager to report an incident which is currently taking place, but instead telephone the incident into the non-emergency line to have officers dispatched. We appreciate your concern and help in addressing this matter.