Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban launched an enforcement initiative against illegal mopeds, motorized scooters, bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and other unauthorized vehicles on city streets in response to an increase in urban crime linked to unregistered motorized vehicles.
In 2023, the NYPD confiscated a record-breaking 18,430 motorized scooters, bikes, and ATVs that were either illegal or unregistered, representing a 128% surge from 2022.
Robberies involving scooters were implicated in 10 different patterns in 2022
So far this year, the NYPD has impounded more than 13,000 illegal two-wheeled vehicles and ATVs, which brings the aggregate to almost 42,000 since Mayor Adams assumed office.
Mayor Adams emphasized the administration’s commitment to public safety, stating, “When it comes to protecting public safety, this administration is crushing it and that includes our efforts to crack down on the ongoing issue of illegal mopeds and scooters on our streets and sidewalks.”
He added, “Mopeds and scooters are not only endangering pedestrians when they are driven recklessly, but we have also seen an exponential increase in criminals using them to ride around and snatch property from New Yorkers. That’s why the NYPD will be ramping up a summer enforcement strategy to curb use of these illegal and unregistered vehicles. We are sending an important message to everyone who drives on the streets of our city: no one is above the law, and if you drive an illegal vehicle, you will face the consequences — and so will your vehicle.”
The enforcement push comes shortly after an incident where two NYPD officers were shot in Queens during an attempted motorcycle stop connected to a series of robberies involving mopeds and scooters. Both officers have since been discharged from the hospital.
NYPD Commissioner Caban stated, “These illegal vehicles have no place in New York City. These motorbikes are dangerous and reckless, and they put everyone on our streets and sidewalks at risk. On top of that, these bikes have become the vehicle of choice in the commission of robberies and other violent crime patterns across our city. The NYPD takes this issue seriously, as proven by the thousands of vehicle seizures we have made so far this year.”
The focus on vehicle-related crime follows reports of 79 robbery patterns identified in the first five months of 2024, showing a significant rise from the previous years.
Despite a minor 2.4% drop in overall crime rates in May 2024 compared to the same month last year, the city has observed an increase in robberies and felony assaults, often involving the escape of offenders on illegal, unregistered vehicles.
The Adams administration is also actively pushing for new state legislation in Albany to curb the spread of illegal and unregistered vehicles on city streets.
This proposed law seeks to eliminate the “moped loophole” by mandating registration and licensing at the point of sale. This measure is intended to reduce the influx of unlicensed mopeds and hold sellers accountable.
“Mopeds always required registration, but because of confusion or deceit, very rarely were,” State Assemblymember Alex Bores noted. “With this bill, we closed a loophole and will now require mopeds to be registered before they leave the store, stopping the flow of illegal mopeds onto our streets, and making moped riders and pedestrians much safer. This is a true win-win.”
