Mayor Domenic Sarno was joined by Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce and Deputy Chief David Martin to talk about the ways they are getting illegal dirt bikes off the streets.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — As spring begins to blossom in Western Massachusetts, Springfield is once again cracking down on illegal dirt bikes throughout the city.
At a press conference in Greenleaf Community Center on Parker Street, Mayor Domenic Sarno joined Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers and Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce to make it clear that the city brings a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to illegal ATVs and dirt bikes.
“The weather’s warmed up, and unfortunately, these marauders will continue their negative actions that puts not only vehicular traffic in harm’s way, but also pedestrian traffic and themselves in harm’s way,” Sarno said.
The city reported that past efforts to curb this activity led to a decrease in dirt bike seizures and arrests between 2023 and 2024. According to Sarno, 53 illegal dirt bikes were seized by the city in 2023, compared to 39 in 2024.
Meanwhile, 26 arrests were made in 2023, compared to 14 in 2024.
With spring in full force, Sarno and company are trying different ways to eradicate the motor vehicles. The mayor said that the police are taking “tactical approaches” to stop the activity, but did not disclose what those approaches were.
In the form of a long-term solution, Click-Bruce said he talked to state Rep. Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield) about refiling a home rule petition that would allow seizure and forfeiture after the first serious offense instead of the second offense and allow for the city to destroy all confiscated vehicles.
The petition was filed by Ramos earlier this decade, and Click-Bruce said he hopes the City Council will support it in the future.
City officials say this petition is important because as of right now, any illegal dirt bike that is seized by the city must be put on hold, and in many cases, put back out for auction. When that happens, the city says the same culprits are buying the dirt bikes back.
“Illegal dirt bikes; you have no place here in the city of Springfield,” Click-Bruce said. “Those of you riding illegally, please find somewhere else to do it safely.”
On the law enforcement side of things, Deputy Chief David Martin said the Police Department has been deploying officers all across the city for the past four-and-a-half years to monitor illegal dirt bike activity. He and Akers encouraged people to have patience when they see bikes swerving in and out of traffic.
Instead of confronting the bikers by themselves, Akers urges the public to call the Police Department, whether that is through the department’s non-emergency number, 311 or the traffic bureau.
Martin added that dirt bikers and ATV riders can call the environmental police to find locations where they can ride their motor vehicles legally.
None of those locations will be in Springfield, according to officials.
“These dirt bikes and ATVs, you cannot operate them anywhere in the city,” Martin said. “You can’t be on the sidewalks; you can’t be pushing down a sidewalk; you can’t be in the street; you can’t be in the park. We’ll take it from you… that’s our effort… zero tolerance.”
