New legislation would let police confiscate more dirt bikes from Philly streets

Riding has long been part of city culture, but the vehicles aren’t street legal.



A group of dirt bike riders on North Broad Street in May 2020MARK HENNINGER / IMAGIC DIGITAL
layla

Layla A. Jones
Yesterday, 11:15 a.m.

Councilmember Mark Squilla introduced legislation Thursday to help the city crack down on dirt bike riders, a plan he announced at a virtual town hall the evening prior. ... Squilla said his legislation, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Derek Green and Allan Domb, will focus on creating a uniform category so police can treat ATVs and dirt bikes the same. Currently in Philadelphia, Squilla said via email, only ATVs are eligible for confiscation and fines in Philadelphia, so two-wheelers that “did not meet the definition” are just being returned.

“What this legislation actually will do,” Squilla told community members Wednesday, “is group all the illegal vehicles into one one form and then give the police the authority to confiscate them.” ... Hosted by the Queen Village Neighbors Association and moderated by association president Eleanor Ingersoll, the virtual town hall was attended by PPD Deputy Commissioner Joel Dales and several other city officials.

Dirt bike and ATV riding is a longtime tradition with a rich history in Philadelphia. Riders, who are of all genders and ages, have credited the hobby with keeping them out of trouble. ... But the vehicles aren’t street legal. ... About 1,000 neighbors joined Wednesday’s Zoom meeting, per Ingersoll, to air grievances and discuss solutions to what some attendees described as escalating quality of life concerns due to dirt bike and ATV riders on city streets.

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ATV and dirt bike riders zoom around a bus at 52nd and Pine streets in West Philadelphia KIMBERLY PAYNTER / WHYY

Philly’s not the only city with the culture. There was a long, mostly friendly competition with riders from Baltimore, a rivalry that reportedly relaxed when Meek Mill signed Baltimore rider Chino Braxton to ride professionally with his Dream Chasers label in 2012. Braxton now rides professionally for Jay Z’s Roc Nation. ... Urban ATV and dirt bike riders are also prevalent in Washington D.C., New York City, Miami, and Oakland, California.

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