New Haven Independent

Posted by: fedupwithliberals | April 27, 2009 8:27 AM

"Bombalicki pointed out the many ways that Curtis had been breaking the law. With no fender, no headlight, no brake light, no turn signals, no horn, and no registration, the bike, a battered old Honda, was as illegal as they come for street use."

Great job officers! But I wonder how hard they'll slap poor Curtis on the wrist for all these infractions. Without any substantial penalties, there is no deterrence.

Posted by: DEZ | April 27, 2009 8:35 AM

Keep up the good work! I was away until Sunday afternoon, but as I drove down Front St. on my way home I noted the police at Dover Beach confiscating a dirt bike. Sunday afternoon was quieter in our neck of Fair Haven.

Posted by: Park Lover | April 27, 2009 9:25 AM

Thank you, Lt. Bombalicki, and Chief Lewis. We need to halt the lawless behavior that is ruining our parks and the beautiful city of New Haven.

Posted by: William Kurtz | April 27, 2009 9:33 AM

Good job.

Posted by: Margaret | April 27, 2009 9:48 AM

I don't get it. There is a no-chase policy, but "[c]ars pulled over as the lieutenant continued to follow the biker at a fast pace." What does a "no-chase policy" mean?

Posted by: Tom | April 27, 2009 9:53 AM

This is great news. It's good to see that the NHPD has listened to the citizens of this city and is taking care of this problem. Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Streever | April 27, 2009 9:58 AM

Awesome work, NHPD! Nice job Bombalicki.

Posted by: Joey A | April 27, 2009 9:59 AM

Chief Bombalicki some day! I can only hope.

Posted by: Bruce | April 27, 2009 10:07 AM

Thank you NHPD! Excellent work -- keep it up.

Posted by: JackNH | April 27, 2009 10:15 AM

Hurray! These dirt bikes have GOT to be stopped!! As always, I have to ask-- WHERE ARE THE PARENTS????

Posted by: Ali | April 27, 2009 10:25 AM

Finally! I know the police are in a tough spot deciding whether or not to pursue, but until some kind of enforcement happens, the reckless behavior will continue.

Thanks New Haven police!! Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Heightz | April 27, 2009 10:34 AM

Can someone explain to me the following. The article says we have a "no chase policy" in New Haven. Does this mean police are not allowed to chase an ATV or we have no policy state in stone therefor its up to each individual officer?

Posted by: Streever | April 27, 2009 11:40 AM

The difference between chasing & following is speed & intent.

If the officer is following, they are going at or near the speed limit. They are not trying to stop the pursued vehicle, they are trying to track it, to relay it's actions & directions to people up ahead, who can then attempt to box it in.

I think in general, state to state, punishments should be higher for people who flee police & force a chase. Right now, the police are typically blamed for this, but it's not their fault that someone else thought to try and flee.

Posted by: FairHavenResToo | April 27, 2009 12:07 PM

Woo-hoo! Thank you, NHPD; Keep it up!

Posted by: DAFeder | April 27, 2009 12:22 PM

The dude on a dirtbike I saw Saturday ~2pm, near Chapel and Winthrop? He'd be very surprised to hear of the no-chase policy -- the three police cars flooring it behind him seemed pretty cool with 1970's cop show-type pursuit. Hope they caught the guy before he killed someone.

Either there are some further details to the policy, or it's not being followed in every case.

JACKNH: re: "where were the parents" -- the guy was 25. He probably _was_ the parents!

Finally, why is it that the only time I see motorcyclists wearing helmets, they're also riding illegal dirtbikes? Feels funny to describe the biker to the police by the color of his helmet.

David

Posted by: Kells | April 27, 2009 12:24 PM

I response to JACKNH, the person being arrested is 25 yrs old, why would you ask where are the parents?? I don't like Bombalicki and never will.

Posted by: robn | April 27, 2009 12:55 PM

Critical info missing from this story....besides arresting an illegal motorcyclist who completely wiped out and was lying in the street waiting to be handcuffed, exactly how many moto-/ATV arrests were made during this "crackdown"?

Posted by: citizen | April 27, 2009 1:06 PM

Great job and at last they are getting the ones in fair haven and there are plenty more off second st and exchange street.

Posted by: citizen | April 27, 2009 1:08 PM

KELLS to bad you do not like him at least he getting the job done well done Bombalicki

Posted by: Erin | April 27, 2009 1:19 PM

Fantastic news! THANK YOU Lt. Bombalicki, and Chief Lewis! As one of the law abiding citizens who posted sightings of illegal dirt bike use on SeeClickFix, it feels like a great victory. Keep it up until every dirt bike and ATV rider knows they WILL be caught! Our streets are safer today than they were last week because people spoke up and NHPD responded by taking back our streets. The power of civic participation at it's finest!

Posted by: nfjanette | April 27, 2009 2:19 PM

Great work on the part of the New Haven PD! I'm glad to read the police are trying to balance carefully pursuit vs. the increased danger to the public.

Posted by: Larry | April 27, 2009 4:11 PM

Great Job Lt Bombalicki. Keep up the Good Work !!

Posted by: anon | April 27, 2009 4:46 PM

When you save a life, you save the world. If the officers keep up this work, they'll probably have saved at least one life by the time the summer lets out. ATV and other reckless drivers in general need to be removed from our streets before we see another little girl killed, like the one mowed down last June in a hit-and-run on Whalley Avenue.

Posted by: robn | April 27, 2009 7:52 PM

seriously though...how many other violators did they catch in this crackdown....
this guy fell down right in front of them...it was a gimme.

Posted by: John Fitzpatrick | April 27, 2009 8:35 PM

Thank heavens (and the NHPD)! It would be so great if this dangerous nuisance was removed from our neighborhoods.

Posted by: Fair Havener | April 27, 2009 8:49 PM

Awesome! It's gotten way out of hand. Keep it up! really. Keep it up. Please.

Posted by: Ben Berkowitz | April 27, 2009 10:15 PM

Really exciting that that this is getting so much attention before the summer season begins from both the community and the police.
Way to be proactive.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | April 27, 2009 11:35 PM

Yes, the police should enforce the policy of no "dirt bikes" on the city streets. We do not want the roads to be torn up; after all, we are the ones who will have to pay the higher taxes to repair them. However, bombastic, arrogant Bombalicki should clean up his own house first. There are police officers who drive their cruisers at 45-55 MPH in our 25 mile zone neighborhoods; they turn without signaling; they put on their flashing lights when they do not want to wait at the light then they go through the intersection at 45 mph.

The NH Police and police everywhere should be setting a positive example for the communities they serve. How about using the police to chase down real criminals who are creating nightmares for citizens? The photo-op with the 25 year-old who was not going anywhere is just that -- a photo-op for the NH police. Why don't they chase and catch the wealthy suburbanites who come into the city to buy drugs. Stop the demand and there will be no suppliers. Poor Blacks and Latinos are simply easy and convenient targets. Bombalicki & his squad should try tackling and eradicating the "real crimes" going on in NH.

Posted by: MAYBERRY | April 28, 2009 5:48 AM

BOMBALICKI FOR MAYOR. ITS ABOUT TIME GOOD POLICE WORK IS RECOGNIZED. CHIEF LEWIS HOW ABOUT A COUPLE MORE CAPTAIN BADGES FOR YOUR VETERAN LIEUTENANTS. LEO GREAT JOB AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN OUR DISTRICT.

Posted by: nutmeg 4 life yo | April 28, 2009 9:36 AM

Curtis, you're 25 and still playing like a teen on the streets. Sack up! Grow up! Be a man!

Anyway, does anyone have a contact # for reporting quads and such? Just call the main police #?

Posted by: jawbone | April 28, 2009 10:28 AM

Nutmeg 4 Life Yo,
203-946-6956 is the police traffic line. This is the number they say to use.

Posted by: Streever | April 28, 2009 10:59 AM

Nutmeg:
call the regular line, and remember, if the dispatch is unprofessional or rude, call the police chief's office to report the interaction including time & day. They are working on the dispatch system to improve it.

Posted by: anon | April 28, 2009 12:09 PM

Concerned citizen, you have a point. We need a major crackdown against aggressive taxis, police, and suburban drivers too. They are just as deadly as the ATVs. I suggest the force sits on Whalley, Whitney, Dixwell, West Park or Quinnipiac and rack up speeding tickets.

If the police can only issue a ticket when a driver is exceeding the limit by 30MPH (e.g., 55MPH in a 25MPH zone), then our posted speed limits need to be reduced to something more sensible. Police, taxis, even school buses regularly drive between 45 and 50 MPH through our residential neighborhoods. I have used radar guns on many occasions to measure this.

Posted by: ROBN | April 28, 2009 12:51 PM

seriously...how many guys did they catch that day?

Posted by: jawbone | April 28, 2009 1:00 PM

ROBN,
Quit asking hard questions, get with the program and start blathering about what a great job the NHPD is doing by simply DOING their jobs.

Posted by: Funky Chicken | April 28, 2009 1:13 PM

ROBN

4th paragraph - "the cops snagged 10 dirt bikes and two ATVs"

Posted by: Tony D | April 28, 2009 1:51 PM

Come to New Haven Motor cross.

Dirt Bike, Quads, Go Carts, all of terrain motor vehicles there is a legal place to ride. Let everyone know. Come to New Haven Motor cross. We always call him and he never answers. Our own 13-DWARD... Alexander Rhodes 469-2141. JUST rings and rings.

Come to: Fairmont Park
On Clifton St.
Fair Haven Heights, New Haven, CT

Dirt path made...Lawns all cut up for your convenience to follow the path... All are welcome. From small to old.... After riding for hours you can head down Clifton St. to Alling Memorial Golf Course

Don't worry, Neighbors have called the police but NO ONE EVER shows up. We even have on video of police driving by and not doing anything. It's Great.. SO, Come on down... We are waiting.. Have fun. Stay off the streets..........They never bother you there at Fairmont Park.... We love the Noise..

Posted by: READER | April 28, 2009 2:13 PM

ROBN,
Reread the article! It says they got 10 dirt bikes and 2 ATVs.

Posted by: Alan Felder | April 28, 2009 11:48 PM

Find a place for people to ride, and stop criminalizing Black youth.

Posted by: Sky | April 28, 2009 11:57 PM

Chief Lewis and detectives: Thank you! Please continue to crackdown on illegal bikes/ATVs.

Posted by: robn | April 29, 2009 7:47 AM

AF,

Youths that do illegal things (things which have been shown to be a danger to themselves and others) criminalize themselves.

Even if New Haven designated some area for off- road bikes, youths would still illegally ride through the streets to get there. Part of the investment in an off-road bike is a trailer and a vehicle to tow it to an approved location.

Posted by: DEZ | April 29, 2009 9:18 AM

Alan Felder- Don't make this an issue it is not. Curtis is a 25 year old ADULT, not a youth. Age is still based on years living, not mentality. By your argument the city should then establish shooting ranges so that the "youth" can discharge firearms legally? Where does it end? I say with police enforcement of the law, community policing, and seeclickfix! The issue is the safety of the citizenry. Let parents deal with their youth, and when they fail and social services fail, let the police try.

Posted by: Park Lover | April 29, 2009 10:11 AM

There is no place in New Haven where people can ride ATV's and dirt bikes without destroying neighborhoods and parklands. NH Police need to continue to crack down on the illegal activities which signal disrespect by the riders for the community and for the law.

Posted by: JMS | April 30, 2009 8:59 AM

I've asked this question before... but has anyone thought about the motorcycle dealers who sell these vehicles? There are several in the New Haven area who all display ATV models... none of which are DOT approved. I'm not saying the dealers could be fined or held accountable (even though I think they should be). Tt's not illegal to sell ATV's. But at the very least we might consider some kind of registration process to track local sales. I assume non DOT vehicles don't get registered with DMV. Maybe they should. This might deter some crime since vehicles could be traced to owners who could then be held accountable. Simple but it could help.

JMS

Posted by: To Alan Felder | May 4, 2009 9:30 PM

This is not a race issue; it just happens that Curtis is African-American. You can't really talk with the hatred and bigotry you and the CWP spew..

Posted by: tommy | May 12, 2009 8:23 PM

how r they "tearing up the street"
when people do burnouts in cars nothing happens, is there car being taken a way? no
so why do u have to talk shit
where r we supposed to ride
there is no legal place
grow up and take life how it is
seriously

Posted by: pat | May 12, 2009 10:22 PM

okay iv been riding quads since i was 10 years old. iv never seen anyone kill themselves or kill anyone else. i am now 35. If you dont want these teens riding on the streets then just ... give them a place to ride without getting fucked over by the pigs. like for real comon there is so much more ppl that are breaking the laws. for example look at all those fuckin drug dealers makin thousands of dollars a day and the cops dont give a ... give the kids a place to ride and youll have them off the street instead of using our tax money to pay the cops more just to catch these "illigal off roaders" some people gotta think about when they were that age what they wanted to do. some wanted to drink others wanted to fuck and do drugs and party while the cool crowd road quads and dirtbikes around. i think that instead of hitting up the rez they would go out ridin
S...
dayum straight.
pat
\

p.s. legalize pot and the government would make alot more money if they taxed it to catch the 'bad drugs'

Posted by: mARIAN | May 30, 2009 11:16 PM

THE NEW HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING MR BOMBALICKI IS NOT ONLY CHASING TEENS ON DIRT BIKES BUT THERE NEW ONE IS TO JUST RAM THERE POLICE CARS RIGHT INTO THE KID. IT HAPPENED ON PECK ALLEY AND ATWATER ST IN THE FAIR HAVEN AREA.
COULD HAVE KILLED THE KID NOT ONCE GIVEING HIM A CHANCE TO STOP IT WAS A FULL BLOW CHASE! IS THE CITY PROUD OF THERE LIEUTENANT. NOT TO MENTION THE WAY THEY HIT THIS KID WHILE HE LAYING BLEEDING ON THE GROUNG, THIS IS WHERE MY TAX DOLLAR GOES.... THERE REALLY OUT TO SERVE AND PROTECT THERE OWN BUTTS,,,, I'M DISCUSTED AND ASHAMED TO LIVE IN THIS CURRUPT CITY. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NO NO CHASE POLICE. GIVE THESE KID'S SOMEWHERE TO RIDE IT WILL END ALL THIS TRAGEDY,I PRAY FOR THESE KIDS SAFETY......