ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Allentown Police Department is once again cracking down on illegal dirt bikes and ATVs in the city.
Gatherings of people on motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs can bring hundreds or even thousands of people to parking lots like the Mountainville Plaza on South Fourth Street. Blanca Mendez met 69 News in front of her restaurant there, called Vesuvio’s.
“They push us to close early many times because of that situation, and we have customers who complain about it, and we don’t see them anymore,” said Mendez.
She said recently, it got really bad.
“A couple weekends ago was the Puerto Rican parade, and they called for after-party, and they shared this location,” Mendez said.
The result was captured in a video shared on Instagram showing crowds of people revving engines and popping wheelies.
“This is until like three, four in the morning,” Mendez said.
Just up the street at Big Woody’s, they get them, too.
“I seen a guy pop a wheelie from that end of the parking lot to that end of the parking lot, and then the cops came and his bike got taken,” said restaurant manager Zaire Harrison.
Allentown Managing Director Frank Kane said that’s what dirt bike and ATV riders should expect.
“If you’re operating a vehicle that is not street-legal, yeah, we can confiscate the vehicle,” said Kane.
Just this year, the Allentown Police Department said it seized 39 vehicles and made 51 arrests of people trying to flee. Kane said if it’s a nuisance to you, call APD.
“A lot of this happens through community involvement. So, if you see something, say something,” Kane said.
Business owners said they appreciate the commitment from police.
“Now I see like a few more cops, so yeah, now I see the difference,” Mendez said.
“Keep going, keep going,” said Harrison.