QUEENS, NY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, in conjunction with the NYPD, has taken a significant step towards curbing illegal scooter use linked to criminal activities across several neighborhoods including South Jamaica, South Ozone Park, and Jackson Heights. In a recent operation, 99 scooters, primarily unregistered and uninsured, were seized due to their illegal parking on sidewalks and streets.
The crackdown also resulted in the confiscation of one unregistered motorcycle and one unregistered dirt bike. The heightened enforcement efforts led to the seizure of an additional five scooters in motion, including one at the intersection of 135th Avenue and 140th Street in South Ozone Park, which had been reported stolen.
DA Katz emphasized the growing concern over scooters used in violent crimes such as drive-by shootings and robberies. “Illegal scooters have become a significant concern in our city,” Katz stated, highlighting the importance of the initiative in enhancing community safety by removing these vehicles from circulation.
The operation is part of a broader campaign that started in February, targeting the misuse of scooters in crimes. To date, the initiative has successfully removed a total of 515 scooters, two motorcycles, and one dirt bike from Queens streets.
The coordinated efforts involved detectives from the Queens District Attorney’s Detective Bureau and officers from the NYPD’s 106th, 110th, 113th, and 115th Precincts. These actions were carried out under the leadership of several senior NYPD and DA officials, reflecting a robust partnership aimed at maintaining public safety and order.
