Bethlehem chief: Illegal dirt bike ordinance in works to combat ‘pervasive’ riding on streets

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — With complaints continuing to mount about illegal dirt bike use on city streets, Police Chief Michelle Kott said there’s action underway to potentially mitigate the problem.

The motorbikes in some cases operate without proper safety measures as defined by the Department of Motor Vehicles, often coming from the factory with no headlights, turn signals and no registration as is typical with a street-legal motorcycle.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Kott said she’s in conversations with the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office and city solicitor’s office, with the goal of eventually introducing a new city ordinance to address the problem.

“I’m going to be reaching out to Councilwoman [Rachel] Leon to have a public safety meeting set up to discuss it, and a new ordinance that I’m currently drafting to help us address this pervasive issue,” Kott said.

She referenced Senate Bill 1183, which addresses the “forfeiture and disposal” of ATVs and dirt bikes that are illegally ridden on public roadways in some cities and boroughs.

But a broader document highlighting the local issue at hand would do well for her department, the chief said.

“A local ordinance would make it easier for us to seize the dirt bikes after [the riders are] taken into police custody,” Kott said.

“But also, there are some nuances that some other municipalities are using in regard to gas stations and where these individuals are fueling up at that would enable us to help cut back on the amount of illegal dirt bikes that are in the city.”

A 'nuisance situation'

Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek said among issues with safety, the illegal riding can also be a “nuisance situation,” especially in the summer months.

“The situation with this has become a real hazard for pedestrians, for cyclists, for children in neighborhoods and things like that, where it’s just the excessive speed, obviously the noise is very unpleasant,” Kwiatek said.

“So I’m more looking at it from that kind of safety perspective.”

Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith asked if Bethlehem could call in for help from the state police aviation unit, as was done in Allentown over a similar issue with illegal dirt bikes.

That led to five arrests, two traffic citations and the seizure of three bikes this past weekend.

“It’s something that I don’t want to say that we wouldn’t explore in the future if the problem persists and gets to be more of an issue,” Kott said.

“But at this time, I don’t think that it’s something that would be as successful here in our city.:

'Dangerous'

At the last city council meeting, Deputy Police Chief Scott Miexell suggested that anyone who witnessed illegal dirt bikes on the street should call police.

“I don’t want to put myself in danger trailing these people,” West Side resident Mary Jo Makoul said.

“The police need to be randomly more visible in areas where these incidents occur.”

Resident Eddie Rodriguez said the issue in Bethlehem has become “dangerous.”

“They’re not respecting the [traffic] lights, nor are they respecting the vehicles,” Rodriguez said.

“They’re at a stop at a red light and they’re rushing right through to get to the other side. And sometimes you get multiple individuals doing this. They’re loud, they’re noisy and they don’t belong on city streets.”