Borough President Diaz to Gas Stations: ‘Stop Fueling the Dirt Bike Fire’

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is calling for a new City law requiring heavy fines for those gas stations that allow illegal dirt bikes and four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to fill up at their pumps.

“These dirt bikes and ATVs are not street legal, yet videos clearly show them pulling right up to the pump at gas stations all over the City. It is time for this City to consider a creative solution to shut off the fuel that drives the recklessness that has taken control of our streets,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Borough President Diaz’s call for new regulation comes on the heels of Sunday’s highly-publicized incident in Manhattan, which followed a full summer of illegal dirt bike and ATV rides across the five boroughs. The borough president’s office is currently drafting legislation that would address the ongoing scourge of illegal vehicles on City streets by fining gas stations that permitted illegal vehicles to use their pumps, unless that vehicle was secured in a trailer that was attached to another, legal vehicle. Those fines would top out at $1,000 per incident.

“There is a time and place for dirt bikes, and that’s on dirt, not the city’s streets. If you’re going to take your bike to an appropriate location, we have no problem with that. But riding on our streets is a serious hazard to bikers, drivers and pedestrians, and that needs to stop,” said Borough President Diaz.

In June, Borough President Diaz issued a letter to NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly calling for an action plan to deal with illegal dirt bikes and other illegal vehicles. That letter can be read at http://on.nyc.gov/19fzSYT.

“Throughout the summer my office has dealt with complaints from every corner of the Bronx regarding illegal dirt bikes and ATVs. We have worked diligently with the NYPD to take these vehicles off the road, but safety concerns prevent us from doing more. What happened Sunday shows that these incidents are dangerous to bike riders and the public-at-large, and we cannot tolerate more New Yorkers, and for that matter more bike riders, to be hurt. If we cut off the fuel, we can put an end to this public safety menace,” said Borough President Diaz.