Philadelphia Police Crack Down on Illegal ATVs and Dirt Bikes, Impound Running Out of Space
Philadelphia authorities are taking action to crack down on the illegal use of ATVs and dirt bikes in the city, as reports emerge of a two-day operation by the Philadelphia Police Department to seize these unlawfully ridden vehicles. Videos posted on social media by Fox29 reporter Steve Keeley show police officers in action, utilizing helicopter tactical air support to locate and identify the offenders from the air.
According to Fox29, the police have been strategically waiting for the ATVs and dirt bikes to stop for necessities such as food or gas before swooping in to confiscate them. Offenders are being issued fines of up to $2,000 for the use of these all-terrain vehicles. In one video, Keeley highlights that many of the seized bikes have had their vehicle identification numbers (VIN) scratched off, leading officers to suspect they may have been stolen.
This crackdown comes in response to an incident over the weekend involving a motorcyclist who was captured on video vandalizing an Uber Eats driver’s vehicle. Cody Heron, the perpetrator, was arrested on Wednesday and now faces charges including possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, and multiple counts of aggravated assault. With bail set at an eye-watering $2.5 million, the severity of the charges highlights the gravity of these offenses.
However, the increased efforts to round up these illegally ridden vehicles have resulted in a predicament for the Philadelphia Police Department. The impound used to store confiscated ATVs and dirt bikes appears to be running out of space, as Keeley noted in one of his posts. With the crackdown commencing in daylight and continuing into twilight, the sheer number of impounded vehicles is putting pressure on the existing storage capacity.
IJR (Independent Journal Review) reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department for an official statement, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
As authorities in Philadelphia intensify their efforts to tackle the illegal use of ATVs and dirt bikes, it is evident that more needs to be done to address this issue. While the crackdown aims to curb dangerous and reckless behavior on the city’s streets, the impound’s limited space poses challenges in effectively storing the confiscated vehicles. The enforcement agencies may need to explore alternative solutions to accommodate the growing number of impounded ATVs and dirt bikes.
