‘Running rampant on dirt bikes’
ATV riders arrested in attempt to curb annual mayhem on roads
Recklessly driving on South Florida’s streets, ATV and dirt bike riders endangered motorists and continued a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday tradition that police have tried to discourage.
Police in Broward and Miami-Dade counties made more than 30 arrests and seized or towed more than 80 vehicles in an effort to curb the street mayhem where all-terrain vehicle riders drove the wrong way down some roads, popped wheelies in traffic, stood on their seats while riding, ran red lights and wove in and out of traffic.
It was the fourth year of the socalled “Wheels Up, Guns Down” ride in South Florida. The ride is supposed to promote peace and honor King's message of nonviolence.
Many of the riders weren’t local, police said.
“Most of these individuals are from out of town, if not out of state,” Broward Sheriff’s Detective Donnard Huneke said. Three arrested in Hollywood were from New York City, including a probation officer for the city, he said.
The riders appeared to stay off ma-
jor highways such as Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike, which had been used by riders in previous years. The Florida Highway Patrol had officers stationed at onramps on I-95 and the turnpike to keep out ATVs and dirt bikes.
The packs spread out across southern Broward on University Drive, Sheridan Street, Dania Beach Boulevard and U.S. 1 and in MiamiDade on Northwest 27th Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard.
“There was heavy traffic. They were driving into oncoming traffic. They were driving between vehicles, putting themselves in danger along with the lives of the motoring public,” Huneke said of the riders.
The packs would split up as police followed them, he said.
A couple of accidents were reported in MiamiDade County. In a separate incident, two Broward Sheriff’s deputies who were part of the effort were injured in an accident when a pickup truck turned into the side of their vehicle.
The holiday weekend rides were promoted on social media with hashtags like “mlkrideout.” The rides do not have an official sponsor and are not lawful. ATVs and dirt bikes are not allowed on paved streets, officials said.
In Hollywood, police received a tip and came across a cache of unregistered ATVs inside a stolen trailer at an rental property in the 1400 block of Lee Street.
Officers confiscated the trailer, nine ATVS and a Rolls-Royce, police said.
Police weren’t certain if the ATVs were going to be used in the rides taking place Monday but said that could have been the intent.
As of Monday night, Miami-Dade police had made eight felony arrests, four misdemeanor arrests and two traffic arrests of ATV riders, officials said. They had issued 24 traffic citations, seized 65 ATVs, dirt bikes and motorcycles, and confiscated four firearms.
The Broward Sheriff ’s Office made five arrests and towed seven illegal vehicles Monday night. Over the weekend, the Sheriff ’s Office made nine arrests, issued 34 citations and towed 12 vehicles. They also recovered one stolen motorcycle.
In Hollywood, police officers made five arrests and seized 11 vehicles.
Police officials last week warned riders not to violate rules of the road.
“Community members have used this day as an excuse to run rampant on dirt bikes illegally through the streets of Broward County, and on our highways, on the Turnpike and on I-95,” Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said. “With our partners in law enforcement … we will work together to have a zero-tolerance policy towards this illegal activity.”
Police were prepared to ticket or arrest riders for a variety of offenses. Those include ignoring traffic lights, reckless driving, fleeing or eluding police, driving on sidewalks, blocking intersections, riding on paved roads, causing injury or death, having an unregistered vehicle or having a suspended license.