CLEVELAND, Ohio – Local and state law enforcement teamed up Saturday to work to get non-street-legal vehicles – such as ATVs – off of Cleveland streets.
The initiative, Operation “Wheels Down” Cleveland, was a partnership between Cleveland police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a news release from the city of Cleveland states. Authorities worked together to “stop, cite and arrest illegal riders and seize the non-street-legal vehicles.”
Officials were able to seize 15 of the non-street-legal vehicles, including two stolen ATVs, the release states. Fifteen individuals were arrested for felonies, and 30 more people received citations. Authorities also seized two firearms.
“The City of Cleveland is aware that this illegal activity causes annoyance and alarm to our residents and puts citizens’ lives at risk,” the city’s news release states. About two weeks ago, law enforcement officials seized a stolen car and six ATVs during a raid on a home on Cleveland’s West Side, an apparent crackdown on riders who have long disrupted the city’s streets.
The city of Cleveland has worked for at least the last five years to determine the best course of action to keep dirt bikes and ATVs off city streets. In 2017, a divided Cleveland City Council approved the construction of professional-grade dirt-bike track and complex at Marion Motley Park at East 72nd Street and Carson Avenue in the city’s Kinsman neighborhood.
However, former Mayor Frank Jackson’s administration scrapped that plan after potential track operators raised “significant concerns about noise, congestion and insurance at the location,” according to previous cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reporting.
However, the Cleveland Bike Life community is strong and ever-growing. In 2016, cleveland.com reporters spent weeks with Bike Life riders, talking about how their once-underground sport has become more public and popular due to videos shared on social media. Watch more below.
More on cleveland.com:
Motorcyclist suffers serious head injury in crash on Cleveland’s East Side, police say
Ad Choices