BALTIMORE (WBFF) — As summer temperatures rise in Baltimore, so does the rumble of illegal dirt bikes on city streets — activity that residents say can make driving feel unpredictable and dangerous, even as police step up enforcement.
“Definitely make a little nervousness comes up, you know?” one man said.
A woman described the riders as a regular obstacle for drivers. “They’re in the way. They need their own lane or something or a designated spot for them to ride because they be in the way,” she said. “It’s dangerous for us and them.”
Others said they try to tolerate the riders as long as they are not creating problems in traffic. “I don’t like to be in traffic with them, but as long as they’re not interfering with me or other cars,” a man said.
Baltimore City police say they are cracking down on illegal dirt bike activity. A law enforcement operation highlighted in May in the Herring Run Park area after tips about a gathering of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs.
Police also carried out an enforcement action this past weekend in the Southern and Northern districts. Video provided by our partners at the Baltimore Sun showed dirt bikes “scrambling down Reisterstown Road near Druid Hill Park,” with hundreds of riders. Police said at least 10 dirt bikes were seized. Detectives are also working to identify operators involved in previous incidents and are pursuing criminal and traffic-related charges.
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Police have not responded to questions about what criminal charges or traffic-related charges have been filed, or what was seized through any search-and-seizure warrants. Police said investigations remain ongoing.
But Baltimore police did issue two civil citations Sunday to gas stations accused of fueling illegal dirt bikes for riders. One citation was issued to the Crown gas station on West Patapsco Avenue near Potee Street.
Mike Goitom, the owner of the Crown station, said he is fighting the citation, calling it unwarranted. “It’s not fair, it’s not fair,” Goitom said.
Surveillance video shared by Goitom showed a large group of dirt bikes pulling up to pumps, with some riders trying to pay at the pump and others attempting to go inside the store to pay. Goitom said his employee tried to stop the riders from fueling up, including shutting down at least one pump.
“He was nervous, he was very nervous….” Goitom said. “I mean the principle is he did everything, what can he do? What else can do then? Go outside to fight them?”
The cost of the citations can range from $250 to $1,000. Goitom said it could cost him $250, but he is protesting the payment.
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