Baltimore police ramp up dirt bike enforcement

Baltimore police are stepping up efforts to get illegal dirt bikes and off-road vehicles off city streets and are asking residents to help.

What’s Happening: The Baltimore Police Department announced it is increasing dirt bike enforcement across the city. Under Baltimore city ordinance, dirt bikes are defined as any motorcycle or similar vehicle designed for use on rough surfaces such as dirt roads or trails that are not registered under the Maryland Vehicle Law. Examples include minibikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) of either the three- or four-wheel variety.

What’s Prohibited: No person may drive or ride any dirt bike or other unregistered motorcycle or similar vehicle on any public or private property located within the city of Baltimore. In addition, no person may possess any dirt bike or unregistered motorcycle within the city of Baltimore. No service station or any other person may sell or dispense motor fuel into any dirt bike or unregistered vehicle.

Penalties: Any person who violates this ordinance is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 per offense or imprisonment for not more than 90 days.

How to Report: Residents can report where illegal off-road vehicles are stored by texting a tip, photo, or video, or by leaving a voicemail on the Dirt Bike Tip Line at 443-902-4474. Tips can be made anonymously. For more information, visit www.baltimorepolice.org/dirt-bike-violations.

If a resident sees a dirt bike or off-road vehicle being ridden on city streets or fueled at a gas station, police ask that they call 911 immediately.

To remain anonymous, residents may also contact Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP (1-866-756-2587).