Inside Philly's crackdown on illegal ATVs and dirt bikes
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Philadelphia police last year seized the most illegal ATVs and dirt bikes in at least five years, per police data obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: Police officials say they're delivering on the Parker administration's promise to crack down on illegal offroading — one of residents' top quality-of-life issues.
Driving the news: Police seized more than 680 illegal dirt bikes and ATVs in Mayor Cherelle Parker's first year in office, per the data.
- That's the most seizures police have made since at least 2020.
- And it's about 3.5 times more than they made in 2023 — former Mayor Jim Kenney's last year in office.
What they're saying: Police say it's a stark departure from the pandemic, when officers struggled to tamp down on ATV and dirt bike riders taking over empty streets.
- "The streets were theirs. It was like an open racetrack for them," Philadelphia Police Lt. Trevor Peszko tells Axios.
By the numbers: Police seized a combined 404 illegal ATVs and dirt bikes in 2022 and 2023 — about how many vehicles the department would seize in a single year.
State of play: Under Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, officers are now conducting enforcement operations at least three times a week, plus whenever they anticipate more riders are out, such as during the summer and weekends, Peszko says.
- The department has 30 police motorcycles — which officers say make it easier to pursue riders than patrol cars. PPD is looking to add another 30 bikes to its fleet.
- They're also cracking down on riders who flee by filing additional charges against them.
Plus: Officers are taking a more targeted approach by monitoring social media, which police say has amplified Philadelphia's street racing culture.
- They look for posts about potential dirt bike and car meetups, and track influencers who share their exploits online, Peszko says.
- This helps police set up traps to "funnel" riders to certain parts of the city.
What we're watching: Police say they're tracking a rise in seizures of illegal dune buggies and scooters.
- Officers are also encountering more riders armed with guns, Deputy Commissioner Michael Cram says.
As of Feb. 21, police had seized more ATVs and dirt bikes in the first two months of the year than during the same period in 2024. Police officials expect those numbers to surge in the coming months.
- "They're going to keep coming out," Cram says. "It's not gonna stop for us."