Mayor Evans to illegal ATV, dirt bike riders: Street legal or scrapyard ready
Mayor Malik D. Evans and members of his team today observed the disposal of more than 50 illegal ATVs and dirt bikes at the City Auto Impound Yard to emphasize the importance of investing in public safety to promote quality of life in Rochester’s neighborhoods.
“The former owners of these vehicles invested a lot of money into a pastime that doesn’t work on our streets,” Mayor Evans. “Because they didn’t use them according to the law, they will be turned into scrap metal. The choice is simple: Street legal, or scrapyard ready.”
With the arrival of warmer weather, the Rochester Police Department (RPD) is ramping up special operations details to intercept the large gatherings of illegal ATVs and dirt bikes that create unsafe conditions and disruptive behavior on city roadways, parking lots, parks, and green spaces. Confiscated vehicles are taken to the City Impound Yard where the oil, gas and batteries are removed in preparation for conversion to scrap metal.
The disposal of the illegal vehicles took place during the latest Public Safety Updates that Mayor Evans and his team have held regularly since the Gun Violence State of Emergency was enacted in 2022.
The emergency order has contributed to a dramatic decrease in gun violence. Key gun crimes all fell by about 50 percent from 2021 to 2024 and continue to fall this year. Compared to this time last year, shootings are down by 32 percent, shooting victims are down by 43 percent. Total homicides are down by 36 percent, from 11 at this time last year to seven this year. However, all seven homicide victims died from gunshots, which Mayor Evans said underscores the reason to keep the Gun Violence State of Emergency in place.
“While gun violence and overall violent crime remain and continue to be our top priority, we are also taking a vigorous approach to enforcing ‘quality-of-life’ crimes – the illegal activity that negatively impacts our residents and businesses and fuels and overall disdain for law and order,” Mayor Evans said.