Boston police seize 13 mopeds, arrest 3 on complaints in Back Bay – NBC Boston

Boston police said they seized more than a dozen mopeds and arrested several people during a patrol in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood on Monday.

Officers were deployed to the Back Bay area to enforce “motor vehicle laws” regarding mopeds and motorcycles.

During the patrol, authorities said they seized 13 mopeds for various violations, issued several tickets and arrested three people.

Complaints have been increasing about mopeds blocking traffic and driving erratically in the area.

“Take them all off the road,” said Boston resident Shiella Radel. “Dangerous to pedestrians, dangerous to drivers and dangerous to the people who drive these things. Take them away.”

Local residents say something needs to be done.

“They just pick and choose the rules they want to follow, and it can get pretty annoying,” said Gretchen Siewert of Boston. “They’re on the sidewalks. I’ve seen them just driving down the sidewalk, driving between pedestrians. Luckily, no one has been hit yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”

“I think they should take tough measures. I think people are overdoing it with the moped rules,” says Hannah Wallis. “When there’s traffic, they just speed past the traffic. That can be dangerous.”

Officers arrested Thomas Gomez-Vera, 21, of East Boston, after he allegedly tried to flee on his unregistered moped. Authorities said while trying to elude officers, his scooter came into contact with two officers, and after a brief struggle, he was taken into custody.

Gomez-Vera is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to comply with a lawful order of a police officer, resisting arrest and driving without a license.

Recep Demirel, 28, of Boston, was also arrested. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license and without insurance and without registration.

Kenan Yeler, 20, of Somerville, is scheduled to face charges in Boston Municipal Court for receiving stolen motor vehicles.