Dirt Bike Crackdown Commences

Out of towners? You can't be serious !! These are fellow New Haveners. I'm glad something is being done but, don't be dishonest

Last weekend I witnessed these criminals gassing up at the Citgo on Chapel and Ferry for another day of terror on the streets New Haven. Mayor Elicker should confiscate and crush these dirt bikes and atv's like Mayor Bronin of Hartford does. This is a seriously dangerous situation that needs a seriously bold solution. It's election season, so our mayor is finally attempting to address this issue after making so many unkept promises during his previous campaign to gain votes, including mine. Shame on you Mayor Elicker!

NickT - It is true that dozens of out-of-towners come to New Haven to terrorize our streets. Mainly, because they know they can get away with it.

Hey, NHPD - people on the 100 block of Ray Road park their dirtbike on the front lawn (classy!) after they've finished operating it on the streets. It's sitting right there, go get 'em!

The Stick-
Large fines for riders, impounding vehicles, crushing the impounded vehicles, and fining gas stations for fueling these vehicles is a good start. I still think we should require registration and operator licenses and license plates and age limits for drivers and passengers for these types of vehicles. I wish there was a way to use drones with strict legislation so they won't be used in any other way than as a substitute for police vehicle chases to track these vehicles back to their residences and owners.
The Carrot- while right now there are lots of riders who enjoy the illegal aspect of using these vehicles, once the city deters the riders from our city, they need to be encouraged to use legal venues to ride in. There are riders and drivers of vehicles all over the Northeast who would enjoy racing and trying out tricks and showing off for spectators and they have very few legal venues to use these vehicles in. The State of CT should encourage an entrepreneur to open a car racetrack and other vehicle racetrack and trick riding arena and off track park for amateurs and charge entrance fees and require participants sign air-tight liability waivers and also charge spectators to watch from safe viewing stands and sell food and beverages for the venue and provide gas stations for fueling inside the venue. It would draw enthusiasts from all over the Northeast. Many of the participants caught illegally using these vehicles are from out of town and out of state. The motorbike rally that happened illegally in the city last year drew thousands of riders from all over New England and New York to the event. The market exists, let's find someone to provide a business with a safer venue in a remote non-residential location in the state where it won't annoy the neighbors and that would benefit the community it's located in from the income generated by such a business.

As long as there is the clear distinction between these menacing individuals on off road vehicles and those like myself who legally and safely operate scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles.

If you looks at articles from other news outlets you'll find New Haven police have arrested folks from New Jersey, Hartford, Wethersfield, Stratford, etc. for riding in our streets. The arrestees are as old as 40 but generally are mid 20s.

If the folks can make it here, they can make it to the track that already exists in Milford.

These aren't local kids, these are adults (albeit immature ones) who get a thrill from taking over the road and get off on the power they feel by intimidating others.

It's always good to see the Mayor backing action to improve the quality of life here, but huge thanks should go to Dennis Serfilippi for tirelessly pressing the NHPD for action. Lt Jacobsen and his former partner (pre-promotion) came across in public meetings as knowledgeable, caring and deeply frustrated.
Dennis kept beating the drum on the dirt bikes and led the charge.
And now we'll see how these aggressive new measures work out.
It won't stop all the crazy stunts we see on the city roads, but it may save a life or two and it will definitely save our sanity.
So thank you to all involved: Dennis Serfilippi, the NHPD, Board of Alders and Mayor Elicker.
Bulletin: the NHPD has invested in some noise meters. Noise is next. So fix those deliberately broken mufflers and stash your moving boom boxes before you're next on the list.

Hopefully, this will not be like so many other laws on the books--- unenforced or enforced sporadically. That is a worse message to send than not having the laws at all. Typical weak-willed pols who make the laws to please some and don't enforce to please others!!! No one sees this???!!

Thank you Mayor Elicker and all those who are working to stop downtown New Haven from becoming a racetrack.

I almost always leave town on Sundays because that's usually the time that the "show" begins.
When it comes to making the loudest noise, there's a real competition amongst them. I think it's a manhood thing...something in them that craves attention no matter what.

Loud motorized bikes and motorcycles should also not be allowed during dining hours on College Street because since the pandemic, College Street has become a draw for out-of-town and locals to eat a nice meal outside.

Motorcycles and loud bikes should be banned from College Street, Crown Street and Chapel Street from the hours of 4 PM to 10 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Why isn't there respect for downtown restaurants who have worked so hard to make so many places nice for everyone to sit down and to enjoy nice food outside?

Last year I invited friends to dine at a restaurant on College Street and the loud, souped up motorcycles interrupted our conversations so many times, we asked ourselves, why are we doing this?

Out-of-towners have plenty of quieter outside dining places in the suburbs, but chose New Haven because of the quality of the restaurants and the choices in a relatively small area downtown. Why ruin this with people riding on loud motorcycles/bikes? If they need attention maybe we can give out free pacifiers on the Green?

Recently, I was coming up Crown Street and a gang of 12 boys on bikes w/o helmets around the age of 12/13 were riding right down the middle of Crown Street daring me to move and hit them. I stopped the minute I saw them and moved on after they gleefully rode on. They "got" me!

Another time a gang of young boys on bikes who were w/o helmets approached me coming down Church Street in the wrong direction in front of Gateway College. Luckily, I was paying attention and they missed me!

If these kids aren't stopped someone is going to get killed.

JohnTulin, I'm certainly not saying no out of towners are here but, the vast majority of them are city residents.

@Wesundad, motorcycles need to be loud in order to be heard from the many distracted drivers. Loud pipes saves lives.

Confiscate the illegal dirt bikes and ATVs, ship them to Texas and auction them off there. New Haven pockets the profits.

@Teddy: evidence?

I have to agree with NickT: in my area it's the " usual suspects " aged 6 to 15 riding all day, every day ( school?? Hahahahah ), and everyWHERE. I see them driving in the other end of the City!

Not only are these riders a danger because they don't have driver's licences or road sense and often ride recklessly, but the RIDERS themselves can be knocked off their bikes and robbed! Parents don't care and encourage it. No need to drive kids to a friend's house! Just have him ( riders are 100% young Caucasian males in this area) drive himself! It seems that I'm more concerned for the safety of these riders than their parents!

Another " bonus" is the pack mentality of this particular group. Before they hop on their vehicles, stored at known addresses, they urinate. Yep....broad daylight out in the open they pee in the gutter or up against the house.

I voted for Elicker based upon his slick speeches at community meetings saying that he was in support of drones and that the dirt bike/ ATV issue "is absolutely solvable" in New Haven.

Are you reading, Mr. Mayor? I will not vote for you again if these safety and quality of life issues continue to be ignored. Or almost worse: If they're given lip service once a year in spring only to be followed by no enforcement.

In summary : we need sustained, serious enforcement including confiscation and the use of drones because riders WILL run from police. Kids around here are taught to run from police as soon as they can walk. Respond to tips provided from the community, retrain or replace snarky civilian non-emergency dispatchers, and restore routine police patrols. Only then will we have a chance of avoiding 365 days of dirt bikes/ ATVs, fireworks, drag racing, and the potential COVID spread accompanying each of these activities.

Toothless tiger; what good does it do to give the riders an extra $900 to avoid by risking lives with their reckless riding when the cops aren't allowed to stop them? Issuing one ticket to someone who crashes their bike isn't going to change behavior.

If reduction in the lives put at risk by these riders happens, it will be due to gas stations getting hammered with fines for allowing riders to fuel up, forcing them to obtain gas out of town before they come rampaging through the free-for-all zone of New Haven.

Patricia Kane wrote:
[quote]Bulletin: the NHPD has invested in some noise meters. Noise is next. So fix those deliberately broken mufflers and stash your moving boom boxes before you're next on the list.[/quote]

Having done quite a bit of research (unrelated to dirt bikes) into the city's ability to monitor sound levels over the past year, I have to say that this sounds like magical thinking to me. The NHPD invested in noise meters [url=https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/city_noise_ordinance_gets_teeth/]back in 2007[/url] -- inexplicably paying $1500 a piece, or about double the price of a high quality Type 2 kit -- and 14 years later, my best estimate is that 1-2 officers per district are trained on using them. If that.

Quality of life issues like loud vehicles have always been more a question of priorities & willingness to crack down. (Do the police have the resources to chase after these people? Should they?)

The kids already have figured out how to get around the gas station prohibition. For example, there's a house on First St. with a shed full of gas cans. The dirt bike gang pulls in behind the house for a quick refueling--they don't even turn off their engines--then continues down Howard Ave. The gas cans are filled legally by taking them to a gas station via a car, then returning them to the shed. I already mentioned this to a beat officer. He said unless he happens to see them pull out onto the street--and then goes after them (which he can't do)--then there's really not much cops CAN do. Nevertheless the signs and promises make for good re-election campaign fodder. Meanwhile, I'm expecting fed up residents to start taking matters into their own hands--which also is not legal. For example, I expect folks to start deploying "Tire Deflation Devices" [TDD] on their streets. Of course, if the police would do this, assisted by drones, for just one summer, New Haven's reputation would change overnight--and for the better: https://youtu.be/QMrbYETcUIE

One filming of one of the "pack" events of 40 or more cycles, quads, cars, taking over the roadway, parts of the city would be a great source of evidence for prosecutions of dozens of laws. Noise, reckless driving, driving two abreast, driving in the oncoming lane, operating an unregistered motorcycle, scooter, quad, uninsured vehicles of the same, packs operating together creates another six types of charges, but all enforcement has gradually been suppressed. Why do Mayor's , Selectmen, Boards of Alders, decide to tell their police officers that certain laws will not be enforced in their town? It is a reflection on the people who live in the town. It is a reflection of the policing controlled by elected officials that place votes of small groups, as needed to retain office. The blatant hypocrisy, creation of new minorities, with more influence over policy, than the majority of the population, on conditions as simple as motor vehicle, and pedestrian safety. So enforcement of laws designed to make the roadways safe for everyone, will not be enforced, as a segment of the public, with the greatest assists of media, local and national, expresses beliefs that motor vehicle law enforcement, is a form of illegal aggressive suppression of the individual rights of people violating the law, and endangering the people unfortunate to be nearby when they decide to engage in dangerous operation.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Vroom...look at ME!

Vroom...I can make a lot of NOISE!

Vroom...I am attractive and sexy!

Teddy-KGB, I have been riding with a group of bikers for over 7 years and the only noise we ever made was taking to each other. Safety was our first priority.

We biked to Bethany, Milford, Stony Creek, Guilford and to many other towns without making noise or getting hurt and respecting others who are moving in other ways (driving, walking, skating, etc.)

We were often passed by loud motorcycles on these trips with riders, who by the way, were often large men who threatened us with their speed and loud Vrooming! Their message to us? Get out of our way!

Granted, there are many motorcyclists who do not act this way, and are just out for a nice ride, but the few who do act like Alpha Males on Wheels spoil the reputations of those who display the same respect that most bicyclists use.

Thousands of people bike downtown in the restaurant district without disturbing those who are supporting
local restaurants. However, I've seen small groups of loud riders cruise slowly down Temple Street reving up their cycles so that everyone in even Fair Haven could hear them! The noise in that small space is deafening! Look at us!!!

At the intersection of Chapel and College I have seen men on loud motorcycles reving up their machines to make the loudest noise possible signaling to all - "Hey look at ME on my motorcycle!"

Teddy-KGB, how is it that extreme levels of noise are needed downtown where motorcycles can barely go over 5 miles per hour and cars mostly move at a snails pace?

That noise is for safety?

Motorcyclists who pass through my neighborhood (downtown) do not want to go fast at all - it's theatre!

Loud motorcycle riders ruin it for those who aren't.

We notice the loud ones who go through downtown, in Fair Haven, Westville and other residential areas in a way that tries to reflect their male dominance and to garner attention.

Vroom. This is not about safety.

@ethanjrt: The fact that the NHPD has bought some new decibel meters indicates there was political pressure to do so.
Neighbors who want to organize their own Noise Enforcement group can check online for the variety of free or low cost apps that can be downloaded to a smart phone. They register the decibels, time and date. That's a way to gather data and then take it to your Alder and demand action.
Or you can keep a log.
Ambulances seem to have the loudest and highest pitched sirens, but police and fire contribute as well. It's hard to believe there aren't ways to lower the din.
The worst offenders are the motorcyclists and cars with broken mufflers and/ or boom boxes. Speeding also generates significant noise.
There is no reason we should suffer "home invasion" by noise.There are laws and if dirt bikes merit enforcement, so do noise invaders.
Or you can simply grab a hair dryer and sit in a lawn chair by the road and aim it at the traffic like a gray haired woman did in a FB posting. It reportedly worked.

@Wesunidad - I understand your frustration with the noise. However, imagine your self on a silent motorcycle driving threw the city or on a highway. It would be complete suicide. Drivers are completely distracted today. Either there on their cellphones or just oblivious to other riders on the road. Furthermore, in New Haven drivers completely disregard all stop signs and red lights. So here in lies the need for a loud pipe on the motorcycle it will hopefully bring attention to the car drivers to pay attention to the cyclist. I am speaking from first hand here. I enjoy riding my Harley through out the city and constantly see many dangerous drivers. I will continue to keep my Pipes loud to protect my self.

[quote]imagine your self on a silent motorcycle driving [through] the city[/quote]

I believe you are describing the experience of riding a bicycle.

@Teddy:

I drive a hybrid car that often doesn't make much noise, does that make it unsafe? There is actually a law that hybrid electric vehicles have to have an audible backup beep (like trucks) for just this reason.

Bicyclists also don't make a lot of noise, and they have the same right to use the road safely as drivers and motorcyclists.

Accepting that drivers are distracted and disinclined to obey laws such as stopping at red lights is not the answer. That's exactly the kind of behavior these laws will slowly work to change, we hope.

@ethan @becca - A bicycle isn't not a motorcycle. A car isn't a motorcycle. If a distracted driver hits you while operating a vehicle you will protected to that most part. If a car hits you while on a motorcycle it will likely lead to death or serious injuries. Not sure why people are grouping illegal dirt bikes and atvs with legal motorcycles.

@Teddy:

If a car hits you while on a bicycle would that not also lead to death or serious injuries? I am not attempting to "lump" any one kids of motorized vehicle in with another, just advocate for safer streets for all, but first and foremost for pedestrians and cyclists, who are the most vulnerable to metal objects moving at high speeds.

So you can't gas up your dirt bike at the local gas station? Big deal: how hard is it to ride to a location close to a gas station, park your dirt bike, take out the gas can you've brought with you, fill the gas can ("it's for my lawn mower"), then walk across the street to where you parked your dirt bike, and fill it up?

Is preventing this kind of simple workaround the job of the gas station owner?

Not to mention -- if you're an adult who also owns a car -- just driving to the gas station, filling a gas can, and driving away to gas up your dirt bike in the comfort of your own garage.

There are riders on motorized vehicles who are law abiding. I have family members who are law abiding scooter riders in another state and go to rallies. I have friends who ride motorcycles and and go to rallies and follow the rules of the road.
There is a small percentage of the total number of riders who are a highly annoying and visible group of motorized vehicles riders who want to be outlaws and get attention through risky bad behavior.
And then there are the vast majority of people who just want a place to ride and try out tricks, run races, and show off for their friends.
The city and state need to discourage illegal and annoying motorized rider behavior by making it difficult, expensive and not worth it to ride illegally, while encouraging riders to follow the rules of the road and use legal venues for their riding enjoyment.

Teddy-KGB...I love Harley's! Most Harley owners are people who I view who have respect for the machine and treat it well. And, they tend to treat others well while out riding.

With all of the negatives you mentioned about people driving in cars downtown, it is the ONE place I feel most safe riding my bike.

The reason is that the minute I go out on the street, I will see other bikers - lots of them, so most people who drive around downtown are aware that there are bikers around. Add to that the lanes (mostly in green) on the sides of the road and I believe we have a pretty safe biking situation downtown, although with lots of people on wheels (including in cars) crammed into a small geographical area, accidents can happen, but not many do.

Having the privilege to have been biking with licensed bicycle instructors for so long, I've learned that for almost all bikers, safety is first. Ask our Mayor! He bikes to work. Ask our Head of Safety and transportation he bikes to work too. And, there are many who work downtown who bike in from Fair Haven and Westville. Where I live near the hospital, I constantly see interns and doctors on bikes headed safely to the hospital.

Where I don't feel safe is in the suburbs like toward Bethany where we bike to and on Downs Road. Heading up that way, we got run off the road by a red, pickup truck and one of us just missed getting hit.

Another unsafe place I've experienced is East Haven going from the airport area, down Heminway and over to Short Beach Road where, again, another biker I was with got the finger and almost got hit. He was Black.

Still another unsafe area where the car and pick up truck reign supreme is Route 146 toward Stoney Creek and Guilford. It seems the closer they come to you, they more glee in their eyes!!!

A motorcycle that makes a lot of noise is not needed for safety downtown.

Ask the thousands of bicyclists who ride downtown if they need a fog horn on their bikes to stay safe.

@wesunidad - Thanks for the tips. I'm extremely cautious when I see a bicyclist in the road, unfortunately not ever one shares my respect for riders. My hope is that we can get a handle on these illegal dirt bikers and keep the roads safe for all riders.

Where are these kids suppose to ride their ATV's. I moved out of New Haven into North Haven. There are always kids riding their ATVs- Mind you North Haven has farms and land where they may have permission to ride on. Kids in New Haven do not have the luxury of asking a land owner to ride on their land. Where should they go? Instead of taking away their toys how about giving them a safe place to ride. Or should we be more harsh on the inner city kids then the suburban ones?

Is there a way to post a picture of illegal activity that police would look at in real-time? In one morning trip doing a few errands, I took three such pictures. One showing dirt bike riders coming out from the back of a house on a side street near a corner of Shelton Ave. They immediately started racing and doing wheelies. The second was a motorcyclist who started racing down Middletown Ave up on one wheel. And the third, a grey Audi with a Georgia temporary plate license number covered in tape on Howe St. turning onto Chapel. All three observations were perfect examples of the wanton disregard for safety and vehicle laws - such as displaying a valid license plate. We need a way to report this type of observation with pictures and locations.

Patricia Kane: Thanks for the shout out. Despite the dirt-bike issue being the #1 complaint in the city, Mayor Elicker had no idea we were working on a new ordinance until I reached out to him last year. I imagine most people (except Mayor Elicker) recognize I led the effort on dirt bikes FROM the community/private citizen front.

I'll continue to lead the effort to make sure the ordinance is enforced. In fact, I've already reached out to A/C Jacobson to find out how the general public can safely assist with enforcement - something the Elicker photo op neglected to cover.

There is a free App called Ring Neighborhood. You can post and receive postings of real time alerts. NHPD recommends it and I'v just started using it.
If you have a camera, it can be connected.

Loud pipes are illegal and they do NOT save lives. The Doppler Effect pretty much negates the noise when a motorcycle is passing a car from behind. So TEDDY-KGB, give your high school science teacher a call and see if you can get your money back.

Thanks, Dennis, for your work and comments.

As I mentioned, the main reason I voted for Elicker was because of his strong verbal stance on the dirt bike issue. I'm disappointed with his lack of follow-through and with the language he used at the press conference. He always qualifies things with ( paraphrasing) "with our current police resources". In other words he's giving himself and out so that when enforcement Falls by the wayside you can claim there aren't enough resources. It's like admitting this is a half-hearted, election-year attempt at placating voters. I wish he would stop sending out messages. He's responsible for our current ( lack of) police resources! I would be happier if you would refrain from sending out emails and making statements on every national tragedy and focus on improving the quality of life in New Haven.

I also wish he would do a Meet the Mayor event north of Grand Avenue. His team has been asked multiple times but he has avoided this part of the city in which coincidentally dirt bikes ,ATVs, and drag racing are rampant

I emailed AC Jacobson questions regarding how the public can assist. Below are the questions and his responses:

To the NHPD and Mayor Elicker-- so we have to film the bikes, track them down to their lair, record the address turn it in, report each event as it happens.... If NH wants me to arrest them and bring them to Union Ave, they're going to have to assign me a social worker......

Another broken promise by our Mayor; who is hiding behind semantics and COVID.... remember.....voters......

NH4All: Mayor Elicker is first and foremost a politician, and so everything he does is very calculated. In this case, he has achieved his goal: a photo op and an opportunity to put a "bullet point" on his political resume. His job with the dirt bikes is complete in his view.

His campaign pitch at last week's CMT went over like a lead balloon. He basically blamed COVID, Yale, and structural racism for all the problems the city faces and why he hasn't been able to accomplish anything.

I agree with respect to all his emails, texts, videos, phone calls. Add in all the photo ops and it's a bit much. If he spent more time fixing the city instead of talking about it, we'd all be better off.

Dennis,

Yes...you're exactly right. Thanks for reminding me it's all politics. Even though I try not to, I sometimes end up believing empty promises.🙄

CityYankee: you hit the nail on the head. I remember several years back when we were told : just tell us where they're garaged. Then when supplied with that info nothing happened. If they'd actually confiscate a few, it'd actually have an effect I believe as word got out among riders.

So frustrating.

Teddy-KGB

You seem to be imagining that loud motorcycles save lives. Loud motorcycles serve no safety purpose whatsoever ever, so maybe you should give up on that fantasy.

The science reported by (non-trump) science says the opposite and Robn correctly states that here...

posted by: robn on April 18, 2021 11:56am

"Loud pipes are illegal and they do NOT save lives. The Doppler Effect pretty much negates the noise when a motorcycle is passing a car from behind. So TEDDY-KGB, give your high school science teacher a call and see if you can get your money back."

Teddy-KGB...perhaps you should check out the science on this issue?

What I think we DO need is a scientific study about why men think that being on a motorcycle makes them appear more sexy, strong and masculine to women.

Why is making vroom, vroom, vroom sexy?

After seeing and hearing a few young males do wheelies up Chapel Street yesterday I think, they too, have a male noise, psychological issue.

Look at me girls!!! Look how sexy I am on my loud dirt bike doing wheelies on dirtless Chapel Street!

It's not just girls these men attract because I have seen young men on College Street glowing and smiling when one of these loud, motorized monsters vroom past them. They seem to love some mysterious thing about seeing another man making a loud noice.

So the question is why do men need to vroom all over the place as soon as the weather warms up?

Is this ritual the equivalent of a baboon beating on his chest?

Any scientists out there who can answer this question...Why do men feel they have to make the loudest noise possible on their motorcycles/dirt bikes/ when it has nothing to do with safety.

The science says that on the highway the driver doesn't hear the noise until it has almost passed her.

When motorcycles go vrooming down Quinnipiac Avenue, no one notices them because they have passed the residents' homes before the homeowners can take a "wow" look at them.

Go figure!

@ethanjrt: Skepticism is a healthy approach to proposed solutions for any problem.
But I can report one of the quietest weekends ever on Quinnipiac Ave., with a slight uptick late Sunday afternoon.
Why is this suddenly happening?
Do you think the massive promotion of the new fines and police commitment made a difference?
I do.
I'm tired of home invasion by noise.
Every Management Team should be developing a plan to work on noise abatement. Loud noises are against the law.
The action on dirt bikes demonstrates that citizen activists can work with the NHPD on taking action.
Here's hoping next weekend is equally quiet.

Too bad that New Haven's community management teams don't work together. I guess that's the whole point.... keep us divided and fighting for crumbs in our own yards and pitted against each other. That way; real power stays in the hands of those who already have it. Very clever!!!

@ NH4All

I appreciate your concern with the contrast between Mayor Elicker's focus on dirt bikers during his campaign and the way things have actually played out since his election in 2019.

I would just point out, in fairness to Mayor Elicker, that when he took office on January 1, 2020, NOBODY -- not you, not him, not any member of the Board of Alders or the New Haven cops nor anybody at City Hall -- could possibly have envisioned the avalanche of issues that would consume his attention, and that of every other city official, beginning about six weeks later. A global pandemic shutting down the economy and the schools, endangering our most vulnerable citizens above all, and requiring innovative responses on every level from public health measures to education to transportation to social services to sheltering the homeless. Then on top of that, a civil rights uprising.

If, in the middle of all that, he had been seen to be deeply engaged in planning for the next summer's rollout of dirt-bike regulations, there would have been very justified shouts of outrageously disproportionate attention being paid to White middle-class lifestyle issues at the expense of the truly urgent needs of our citizens.

@CityYankee: Yes, there is an opportunity for the Management Teams to work together and that is especially easy with Zoom meetings.

Dear Ms. Kane-- you make a very valid point on how it would look to do something during a pandemic. I still believe that , no matter what he does, some will like and some will not like. He should do what he promised and what he thinks is right; in spite of whatever people are going to say about it. Unless it was all talk; which it probably was.

Patricia Kane...I live downtown, and I too can report it was a much quieter weekend.

You asked, "Why is this suddenly happening? Do you think the massive promotion of the new fines and police commitment made a difference? I do."

Last night on my way back from an event I stopped to talk to a police officer who was on College Street.

I asked him about the noise, the dirt bikes and IF they could close the streets that have outside dining between the hours of like 4 to 9 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And, now, there is an added feature of eating on College Street which is that there are independent musicians who set up and play music and sing during at various times throughout the dining hours.

I pointed out what a delightful scene - the beautiful planters with flowers and the sparkling lights - to see so many people patronizing the restaurants' outside dining, and that the one thing that spoils it is loud, reved up motorcycles roaming around right next to diners to "show off"!

I took a guest from out of the country to South Bay last summer and I could see the facial expression on my guest when we had to pause our conversation so that we could hear each other.

Who wants to sit there and pay good money for great food and service and motorcycle noise?

How many motorcyclists would this inconvenience if they could not, for a few hours, on a few days each week parade down College Street and Temple Street while people are dining outside? My guess is ZERO since, so far I have never seen one motorcyclist stop and eat at one of these restaurants!

I am not suggesting that College Street be closed to cars (it is one lane right now) during that time because many park in the Crown Street Garage (more $$$), and many come from out of town simply because there are so many good restaurants in downtown New Haven.

It is in the interest of New Haven to keep as many restaurants in town profiting and creating jobs wherever they are!

The headline should be "Yet ANOTHER Dirt Bike Crackdown Commences".

Every Spring it's the same story. The city announces "WE'RE CRACKING DOWN!!", and then we get the same results. Obviously this isn't working, otherwise there wouldn't yet another crackdown.

Not for nothing, but these dirt bikes have some of the best suited suspension for driving on New Haven streets, which are ABSYMAL to begin with. Seriously, Afghanistan has better roads than this. How about we get some of this crackdown money to repair sections of Quinnipiac Avenue between Townsend and Ferry Street? It's like driving on the surface of the moon.

@Heather C. there are no "legal venues" and nobody wants to take on that kind of liability. This isn't like the West Coast where you can buy a dirt bike, put it on the back of a buddy's pickup truck, and then drive out to the desert where there's plenty of open space to ride. The North East is way over developed. The other part of this is attitude. Other communities have dealt with these types in a more proactive way. In Las Vegas the police INVITE people to the local drag strip to race against them, and it's all perfectly legal. With dirt bikes here it's "Oh my word, these ruffians are disturbing my dining!! How dare they?".

RobotShlomo...Black Lives Matter.

You made a reference to dirt bikes disturbing people who dine outside downtown.

Dirt bike and loud men on motorcycles impact downtown businesses.

Maybe you don't understand these facts about how loud dirt bikes and men who need to be seen on loud motorcycles impact incomes and businesses in restaurants downtown.

Many owners of the restaurants have done some of the following to stay in business and earn a living AND to pay taxes in New Haven, the State and Federal Government during the Covid shutdowns:

• they survived (barely) the tremendous loss of business during Covid closures with:
  
• no money to pay the rent
  
• no money to pay the electricity/water bills
  
• no money to pay their own life expenses
  
• no money to pay salaries to employees they need to keep
  
• no money in their checking accounts
  
  and when they reopened for outside dining in good faith they...
  -bought extra tables and chairs for dining outside
  -bought beautiful planters to enhance the dining experience
  -bought umbrellas, outside heaters and lights to grace the dining area
  -paid staff to sweep the sidewalk and do the extra work of setting up everyday
  -paid staff enough to stay with them, so staff could earn a salary and tips
  
  RobotShlomo...I served on a Conservation Commission in an all white suburb for 7 years and we had to deal with young boys on dirt bikes racing though Open Space areas. Our members were able to get out on weekends and film the boys from out of town who arrived with their dirt bikes in the back of pickup trucks.
  
  For a short period of time, we were able to position cameras in trees to record license plates and the faces of these boys ripping through Open Spaces. We caught many of these boys and sent them packing.
  
  However, the problem of the noise and their little boy behavior just moved elsewhere.
  
  Your suggestion is good, however even if there were places here like they have in Las Vegas would these boys go there?
  
  Black Lives Matter

You don't think I have to deal with loud motorcycle noise in Fair Haven during Spring and Summer? Surely you jest. You should also realize that there are communties who have built up commerce around biker events like Bike Week/ Sturges. So this isn't as cut and dry, and New Haven isn't as sophisticated as some like to think it is. Furthermore, many times these rides rsise money for charity. If you have an issue with how restaurant owners have been treated during the the lockdown, that is between you and the local/state/federal government. I know there are many who think "government bad" however this is a situation they needed to step up, and to a large part they didn't.

Second, if word that there was some kind of alternate venue where it was known the cops wouldn't hassle them, my guess is bikers would flock to it.