By: Laura Soukkavong –
Springfield — Springfield Police seized 11 vehicles during enforcement operations in Oct. 9, 10 and 12 targeting unlawful dirt bike, off-highway vehicle and motorcycle use. Massachusetts State Police towed at least seven additional vehicles while assisting on Oct. 9.
The department said the operations address dangerous riding on city streets, including behavior that threatens pedestrians, motorists and riders.
On Oct. 9, officers stopped a 19-year-old moped rider near Newbury Street after reportedly witnessing multiple traffic violations. The rider received a citation, and officers seized the moped. Police also recovered an abandoned Tank motorcycle on Bristol Street and sought a criminal complaint against a 33-year-old man following another motorcycle stop near Pine and Central streets.
Five additional vehicles were removed on Oct. 10. Stops involving Tank motorcycles resulted in citations for a 50-year-old rider near Avocado Street and a 29-year-old man on the 900 block of Belmont Avenue. A stop on the 400 block of Liberty Street led to a criminal complaint against a 63-year-old woman.
That same day, officers issued a civil citation to a 37-year-old man riding a quad on Phoenix Terrace. A 23-year-old dirt bike rider was cited on Tyler Street after the bike stalled. Both vehicles were towed or seized.
On Oct. 12, officers stopped a 13-year-old dirt bike rider on Plainfield Street. Police seized the bike and released the teenager to his parents. Two separate 19-year-old men stopped while riding Tank motorcycles near Freeman Street also face criminal complaints, according to the department. Both motorcycles were seized.
Springfield Police said the latest operations brought the department’s reported total to 156 off-highway vehicles and motorcycles seized, largely through its ongoing enforcement details.