NEW HAVEN, Conn. — It’s a problem plaguing Connecticut communities for years—street takeovers involving illegal dirt bikes and ATVs. Now, a new regional task force in New Haven County is working together to tackle the issue.
“All of us here, myself included, are fed up, disgusted, and we’re not going to take it anymore,” said Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven.
North Haven is one out of many Connecticut municipalities seeing an increase in ‘street takeovers’, where large groups of people quite literally get together to take over the street, disobey traffic laws, and ride recklessly.
Freda got caught up in the middle of one in July on the Merritt Parkway when around 300 illegal dirt bikes and ATVs went from town to town.
“People were so terrorized over this, that it was really remarkable to see,” Freda said.
Since August, North Haven has been one of several departments coming together to combat the problem.
Now, it’s becoming an official task force led by a Lt. at the New Haven Police Department, alongside officers from Hamden, Guilford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge and troopers with the Connecticut State Police.
“Don’t come here or we will do everything possible that we can to hold you accountable and catch you,” said Mayor Justin Elicker of New Haven.
Mayor Elicker said a total of 33 ATVs and dirt bikes have been seized so far this year. 18 of those came about since the group started working together in August.
But how will it work? Mayor Elicker said it involves at least one officer from each department. The task force will have weekly intelligence sharing and strategy meetings, share information and intel to support the task force, participate in and coordinate joint operations, and dedicate additional resources when feasible when learning about potential large rides.
“We may not catch you the first time, maybe not the second time, we will catch you,” said Chief Karl Jacobson with the New Haven Police Department.
Before this task force, New Haven was handing out fines ranging from $1,000-$2,000 after multiple offenses thanks to a new state law. They’ve also been working with technology like drones to track the riders and make arrests. They also have the ability to fine gas stations allowing the riders to fill up at their business. But, they feel them working alone isn’t enough to stop the problem.
“Efforts to combat that have been very difficult. We cannot chase any dirt bike riders, nor would we want to because of the danger it creates for the police officers, the riders, and the public,” said Lt. Derek Werner with the New Haven Police Dept. Lt. Werner will be leading the new task force.
Together, though, they hope to catch more offenders and send a strong message to those who are thinking about taking part in these illegal rides.
“We do regular times so, nobody’s going to know when we’re going to be out there. You’re going to ride, you might now know we’re out there. We may just be watching you and we’re going to get you later with an arrest warrant,” Chief Jacobson said.
“By picking off two, three, four, five, six, and creating consequences, over the course of time, we hope that sends that powerful message,” Freda said.
The task force hopes to add more departments into the mix in the future.
If you have any information about any future rides or where people are storing these illegal vehicles, you’re asked to reach out to the police. You can do so anonymously at 866-888-TIPS (8477) or by texting "NHPD plus your message " to 274637 (CRIMES)
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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