Syracuse police describe ATV enforcement detail, fines and tow policy as part of strategy to curb dangerous riding

Sergeant Tom Blake of the Syracuse Police Department on Monday outlined a multi-year enforcement effort to reduce illegal operation of all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and similar vehicles on city streets and parks, saying the program relies on drone surveillance, county air support and tips from residents.

Blake told the Syracuse City Common Council that the department’s ATV detail, launched in February 2019 and run annually since, is intelligence-driven and built around public education, an escalating local appearance ticket and an impoundment process designed to raise the cost of repeat violations. “I’m Tom Blake with the Syracuse Police Department,” he said when describing the department’s courtesy-letter and outreach approach.

The department enforces three primary violations under a local ATV law: operation on public roadways, operation in parks and operation on private property without permission. Blake said the local appearance ticket carries escalating fines: $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second and $1,000 for a third. In addition, vehicles taken as part of the detail are subject to a $2,000 redemption fee if the owner wishes to recover them from the tow yard.

Why it matters: Blake said the detail is tied directly to public-safety concerns — fatal crashes, weapons and drug recoveries — and to residents’ complaints about reckless riding. He said the enforcement effort has also seized firearms and drugs and led to arrests of wanted persons. “When we stop somebody on a dirt bike and they act reckless and they take off from us, it’s probably because of one of these factors. They have guns, drugs, or are a wanted person,” Blake said.

How the program works: Blake described a mix of tactics rather than vehicle pursuits. The department uses drones and “Air 1” air support from the county to observe riders in locations where patrol cars cannot safely follow. The department’s policy is to avoid vehicle pursuits of ATVs unless there is an immediate threat to life. “We are not chasing them. We’re not getting involved in vehicle pursuits because it’s not worth the risk to us,” Blake said.

The enforcement process is complaint- and intelligence-driven, Blake said. Residents can submit tips, photos and locations to a dedicated email address (ATVtips@syracusepolice.org), which the department compiles into an intelligence packet that informs details. Blake said the department maintains a roughly 25-company rotation of tow vendors; when a vehicle is towed it goes to the tow company that is next on the rotation. Before a towed vehicle is released by the tow company, the person seeking the vehicle must obtain clearance from the police records division to ensure lawful possession.

Blake described two practical outcomes intended to change behavior: the escalating fines and the $2,000 redemption fee. He estimated that the combined cost of fines, redemption and tow fees can exceed $3,000 for someone who is caught. He said the policy has reduced repeat recoveries of the same vehicle and that some previously common behaviors — wheelies in parks and riding through Armory Square — have declined.

On juveniles and evidence: Blake said officers exercise discretion when minors are involved; young children are not issued appearance tickets that are not legally applicable. He also explained that ATVs encountered during details are frequently stolen, and that contraband found during arrests or searches leads to criminal charges in addition to local citations.

Questions from council members: Council members pressed the department on whether the outreach and enforcement have reduced fatalities and what else the council could do to help. During the discussion a council member who identified himself as representing the East Side said the problem persists on streets including Nottingham Road, Meadowbrook, Westcott and Thornton Park. Blake said continued community reporting and cooperation with local media and council-led outreach remain central to future reductions.

Numbers presented: Blake said the detail has run since February 2019 and that he tracks offenders, written tickets and tows year to year. He cited compiled statistics showing a reduction in contacts and repeat incidents after the implementation of the local law and the redemption fee, though the department emphasized the detail is evolving and numbers vary year to year.

Process and public records: Blake said impounded vehicles are not retained by the Syracuse Police Department but are towed to privately operated yards; if a vehicle remains unclaimed and storage fees exceed its value, the tow company may take ownership via a mechanic’s lien and dispose of the vehicle. He also described language-line resources and officers fluent in several languages to ensure residents understand citations or courtesy letters.

What’s next: Blake said the department will continue running the ATV detail as complaints and intelligence dictate, and urged residents to send tips, photos and locations to ATVtips@syracusepolice.org. He praised the Common Council’s support for the local law and said the combination of education, tactical evolution and financial disincentives has been central to the department’s results.

Ending: No formal vote or ordinance numbers were presented during the council discussion. Council members encouraged continued outreach by the police department and additional community meetings; Blake agreed to attend neighborhood meetings on request and said the department remains focused on reducing risky riding and the public-safety harms that can follow.