Philadelphia police are training more officers to confiscate illegal ATVs and prevent car meets across the city this summer

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia police are working to train more officers to deal with illegal off-road vehicle activity and car gatherings, which continue to pose a safety risk in the city, especially during the summer.

Action News was at the department’s Highway Patrol headquarters Friday as officers got ready before starting their shift.

They spent the night on motorcycles, patrolling the streets throughout the city of Philadelphia.

“They will spend some time in the areas where there is a lot of off-road vehicle driving and then go to the areas where crime is highest,” said Deputy Commissioner James Kelly.

Department officials say combating ATV activity has been and will continue to be a priority.

At the beginning of the year, the department set up a mobile response team that carries out detailed operations on weekends.

Part of their job involves breaking up car gatherings and arresting groups of illegal ATVs and dirt bikes.

Kelly said officers will not pursue the illegal ATVs they see in the city, but they will try to keep them under control and confiscate the motorcycles.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Cram said about 180 off-road vehicles had been seized so far this year.

“That’s about all we did last year. So we’re making progress,” he said. “We’re changing our tactics a little bit. We’re training more officers to ride dirt bikes and we’re buying more dirt bikes so we can put more on the road.”

“They are simply uncertain, as you have seen in the last few days,” Cram added.

On Thursday, a 35-year-old ATV rider was killed in an accident at the corner of Westmoreland and Broad Streets in North Philadelphia.

According to police, he was racing other ATVs down Broad Street when he collided with a car that was making a legal turn.

Kelly said the Highway Patrol is working to ensure safety on Philadelphia’s streets and collect as many off-road vehicles as possible.

“We’re trying to train more police officers and get more dirt bikes on the road because the situation is delicate,” he said. “We have to worry about the safety of the public and our police officers. We have policies that we have to follow.”

Cram had a message for all riders surrounded by off-road vehicles.

“Don’t get out of your car. Call 911. Tell them where you are. Don’t try to confront them,” he said.

Police are also trying to tackle the problem of illegal car meetings, which they say take place almost every night and are usually organized via social media.

Cram said when police arrive at the meetings, the cars usually disperse.

Nevertheless, he said, their aim is not just to break up the meetings. If possible, the police also want to confiscate the cars involved and hold those involved accountable.

“It’s just a matter of us getting out there, dispersing them and containing some of the damage they’re doing,” Cram explained.