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Date: 6/7/2022
CHICOPEE – With the warm summer weather incoming, city officials are preparing for the increased activity of illegal dirt bike riders.
Methods of curbing illegal riders continue to be a proactive goal at different levels of city government. Mayor John Vieau joined a tri-city police task force with Springfield and Holyoke in August 2021 that works toward a united effort to curb illegal dirt bike activity.
“We’re working together [on this issue]; we have zero tolerance for this reckless behavior,” said Vieau at the press conference.
Ward 7 City Councilor William Courchesne serves as the Chicopee representative for the task force. Courchesne continues spearheading legislation efforts, including the City Council’s passage of an ordinance that bans gas sales for unlicensed recreational vehicles in December 2021.
Courchesne said that increased activity is already apparent. “I live off of Chicopee Street, so I hear it all day and night long as they go racing down there,” said Courchesne in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Since the task force’s formation, Courchesne shared that he is the only original City Council member after the 2021 election cycle. The councilor is attempting to reconvene the task force as illegal activity begins to increase.
“I am in the process of reaching out to [the councils’] new public safety chairpersons so we can reconvene the task force... we’re going to continue to work together and see what we can do,” said Courchesne.
Courchesne stressed the importance of communities working in unison on the issue. Since the initial formation of the task force, Ludlow, Agawam and West Springfield have also joined.
“It’s important that we as the writers of the laws and ordinances of the cities do it together to help our police departments out. As much as [the police] have tools, we have to write them the tools to use,” said Courchesne. The councilor also advocates for the state’s involvement on the issue, including supporting Springfield’s initiative of destroying illegal dirt bikes seized by the police.
Looking toward the future, Courchesne said he does not expect an immediate solution for the issue but said that continued progress will further curtail the illegal activity.
“This isn’t going to be fixed this year realistically, but it’s something we have to continue to fight and work at. Hopefully down the road, things will change,” said Courchesne.
Vieau is also cognizant of the increased activity. “Chicopee has zero-tolerance for it; we will try and curtail that illegal behavior of our roads and make people feel safe anyway we can,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
The mayor expects that new reforms and the city’s infusion of recent police academy graduates will help in denouncing illegal dirt bike riders.
Readers who witness illegal dirt biking activity can text SOLVE (27437) to communicate tips safely.