More than a dozen were arrested on Friday after ATV and dirt bike riders unlawfully stormed South Florida streets ahead of Martin Luther King Weekend, stated authorities.
According to Miami-Dade Police Detective Andre Martin, the operation was created to combat the illegal usage of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), motorbikes, and dirt bikes.
Authorities stated they were able to stop a large number of people who were riding their vehicles illegally on county roads.
Officers from the MDPD’s Priority Response Team, Motors Unit, and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) “conducted a takedown of numerous violators engaged in participating or spectating in intersection takeovers in a location near Miami International Airport,” Martin said in a news release Saturday.
According to Martin, the following findings were obtained by the investigators:
- There have been 61 arrests.
- 5 firearms have been seized.
- 363 Citations Have Been Issued
- 21 Vehicles Have Been Impounded
- Seven stolen vehicles have been found.
Martin praised the efforts of his police and other local law enforcement colleagues during the inquiry.
“We will continue to have zero tolerance for anyone breaking traffic laws and being reckless in our county,” Martin stated in a news release issued on Saturday.
With many riders returning to the road this weekend for the annual “Wheels Up, Guns Down” event, the MDPD stated that police units, along with local and state partners, have been and will continue to monitor areas in an effort to deter riders and/or detain offenders.
According to the agency, safety is still the primary priority, and units will confront anyone who commits an offense and can be taken into custody without endangering the safety of other vehicles and pedestrians.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.